NATCA Bookshelf

N A T C A I N W A S H I N G T O N 2 0 2 5 N i W To d a y 40 40 40 40 ISSUES Modernization and Infrastructure Paper – Supplement A Issue n Tier 2 Funding Priority – Communications n Federal Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System (FNS) provides critical information to controllers and pilots about issues in the NAS, for which timely knowledge of the issue is essential for personnel concerned with flight operations. NOTAM modernization has been a FAA Top 5 safety priority and will require appropriate funding levels in order to sustain and upgrade the system. This issue is underscored by the NOTAMS outage on January 11, 2023, which caused widespread flight delays and cancellations throughout the NAS. A subsequent reduction in NOTAMS availability roughly two weeks later further emphasized the need for secure and robust NOTAMS infrastructure. n Airport Surface Detection Systems such as the Airport Surface Detection System Model X (ASDE-X) and Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) are examples of runway safety enhancement tools that help prevent wrong surface landings. NATCA and the FAA fast- tracked development and deployment of a new situational awareness tool (Surface Awareness Initiative) that helps address and mitigate runway incursions. ASDE-X and ASSC are fully deployed at 44 airports, but funding for these programs has expired and currently are in a sustainment-only posture. Additional funding is needed todeploy new surface surveillance systems at airports that currently lack this type of technology. n Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) – to – Internet Protocol (IP) (TDM-to-IP), is the program that will upgrade all copper wiring infrastructure with fiber optic cable wiring. This program is critical because several major U.S. telecommunications carriers have started to discontinue current TDM-based services (supported by copper wiring), while others have actually accelerated their discontinuation schedule. The FAA is highly dependent on these services to receive and transmit information at approximately 6,000 sites. Any discontinuation or disruption of TDM services without first transitioning to IP communication services would lead to potential safety risks and/or delays in air traffic services. n Voice Over Internet protocol Communications Enterprise (VoICE), which is comprised of the program and new equipment that will replace the aging (physical) communications technology that controllers use to communicate with pilots and other air traffic facilities. The current equipment is outdated, is approaching end of lifecycle on multiple systems, and replacement parts are getting harder to acquire because the existing systems are no longer supported by their manufacturers. n Operational and Supportability Implementation System (OASIS II), is a critical piece of the communications system that is used by Flight Service Air Traffic Control Specialists at the 17 Flight Service Stations (FSS) throughout Alaska to provide weather briefing and flight planning services to general aviation pilots. OASIS II is beyond its end of lifecycle and is beginning to experience system failures; however, it must be maintained until a replacement system can be implemented.

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