NATCA Bookshelf

engineers questions about TFDM's Build 2 functionality, which brings online surface scheduling and metering capabilities. The team then reviewed the partially developed Build 2 training materials and offered feedback and guidance to the vendor. The training course, which is primarily intended for TMCs, is being developed concurrently with the software. This approach allows the training materials to be ready for deployment soon after the software is finalized, but also presents challenges in ensuring the materials stay up-to-date and accurate while the product is continually evolving. Ms. Brazelton traveled to Atlantic City, N.J., during the week of Jan. 6 to attend the first session of TFDM adaptation familiarization with second level engineering (TSLE). Although many pieces of the TFDM system are nationally standardized, there is a tremendous amount of site-specific information that can be customized, or adapted, for each tower. To accomplish this, each facility will choose one or more adaptation specialists. These individuals will first attend the TFDM ATCS and OS/CIC/TMC courses for general system familiarization. Adaptation familiarization with TSLE will quickly follow and will ensure the specialists understand how the system can (and cannot) be customized. The adaptation specialists will then help direct TSLE in customizing the system for their facility. Training events included a pre-site survey at Deer Valley ATCT on Jan. 22, a review of the Build 1.1 delta package training in Washington, D.C., the week of Jan. 27, and a TFDM national cadre course in Atlantic City occurring Feb. 4-13. TERMINAL AUTOMATION MODERNIZATION REPLACEMENT (TAMR) Kyle Ness (M98) is the TAMR Article 114 Rep for NATCA. Deployment activity: • All STARS equipment deliveries for the TAMR deployment waterfall have been completed. Camarillo and Oxnard towers were scheduled to IOC Jan. 18 as Pt. Mugu DOD Naval Air Station transitions to STARS G4 ELITE. • Upcoming IOCs - Memphis (MEM/M03): Feb. 2, Lubbock (LBB): Feb. 14, and Pensacola (P31): Feb. 21. • Shakedown Phase 1 on the STARS system recently installed at the new CLT tower/TRACON. • Equipment delivery is in progress at Corpus Christi with contractor acceptance scheduled for mid-February. The TAMR Program Office issued a Contract Change Proposal to initiate rollout of the STARS optical trackball. This is the final contractual step to send the updated trackball to all STARS sites. The optical trackball is very similar to the existing trackball but it much easier for Tech Ops to maintain since it uses a laser instead of mechanical rollers to follow movement of the ball. The next step will be delivering the trackballs to sites. Initial Trajectory Based Operations (ITBO) held a follow-up meeting Jan. 14. Discussion centered on sequence for implementation of TBO with emphasis on the next two-three years via objective and executability analysis.

• Cover
• January 27-February 2, 2020 Update