NATCA Bookshelf

4 NextGen Now | Summer 2014 Patricia Gilbert EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT NATCA NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION Paul Rinaldi PRESIDENT Welcome to the first edition of our new electronic publication, NextGen Now! With this publication, NATCA will provide a regular update on efforts to safely and effectively modernize the National Airspace System (NAS) with new equipment and procedures. It contains perspectives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and many key stakeholders in the aviation community. NextGen modernization will allow the FAA to meet increased capacity demand while improving the safety and efficiency of the NAS, reducing delays, and protecting the environment. NextGen projects are transforming the NAS by using new and existing technologies including satellite navigation, advanced digital communications, and enhanced connectivity between all components of the NAS. NextGen is happening now, from the new procedures implemented three years ago in Washington, D.C., to the 61 new procedures recently implemented at Houston Center (ZHU), Fort Worth Center (ZFW), Memphis Center (ZME), Houston TRACON (I90), Houston Intercontinental Tower (IAH), and Houston Hobby Tower (HOU) as part of the growing Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) project. Another 77 are planned for North Texas facilities later this summer. And that's just the starting point for more widespread implementation nationwide. A similar story is playing out with the Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement (TAMR) project. Among the many positive developments in recent months includes Allentown, Pa. (ABE), which in April became the first FAA STARS Elite facility. The System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Visualization Tool (SVT) is a new product recently installed at Southern California TRACON (SCT). The SVT provides Surface Situational Awareness to controllers, traffic managers, and front-line managers. It gives controllers and traffic managers access to surface data that was previously unavailable outside of a tower cab.

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