NATCA Bookshelf

N A T I O N A L A I R T R A F F I C C O N T R O L L E R S A S S O C I A T I O N | W W W . N AT C A . O R G N i W To d a y 41 41 41 41 ISSUES Modernization and Infrastructure Paper – Supplement A Issue n Tier 3 Funding Priority – Support Tools in Automation n Legacy weather systems must be maintained until the NextGen Weather Processor (NWP) can be implemented. NWP is a program that will consolidate multiple weather systems into one, while also incorporating new weather products. FAA facilities currently utilize several different systems that are beyond the "end of lifecycle" stage and replacement parts are becoming harder to acquire. Additionally, there have been multiple safety reports of issues related to legacy Information Display Systems (IDS) from FAA's ATC facilities. It is important that funding for legacy IDS be maintained until Enterprise Information Display Systems (E-IDS) can be deployed in approximately 2025-27. E-IDS will provide a wide variety of information to air traffic controllers such as current weather, airspace delegation, access to approach plates, NOTAMS, SIGMETS, flight route verification, and aircraft information, once deployment is complete. n Tier 4 Funding Priority – Decision Support Tools and Commercial Space Operations Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) must be maintained until a replacement system can be implemented. TFMS is a strategic planning tool for identifying and managing air traffic flow constraints in the NAS related to congestion in certain geographical areas. TFMS processes all available data sources such as flight plan messages, flight plan amendment messages, and departure and arrival messages. TFMS identifies constraints such as a weather event or major sporting event and helps the FAA plan for and execute that plan to minimize its negative effects on the NAS. TFMS will need to be replaced by a new system in the near future. Maintaining and upgrading TFMS also affects Commercial Space operations. By providing the FAA with these critical decision support tools, the agency can minimize the disruption to the NAS during the launch and scheduled re-entry of Commercial Space vehicles, rather than segregating 1,000 square miles of airspace with temporary flight restrictions each time. n Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) will provide improvements to flight data coordination and management for air traffic users, as well as enhanced surface traffic flow management capabilities. Among other things, TFDM will replace air traffic control tower paper flight strips with electronic flight strips, provide automation for electronic flight and airport data management, and interface with other NAS systems to share electronic flight data. Due to funding constraints and budgetary cuts to TFDM, the 89-site implementation waterfall was slashed to just 49 sites. This drastic reduction will not only limit TFDM's ability to improve efficiency, but it also will limit system enhancement opportunities as air traffic grows throughout the NAS.

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