A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/589908
the sit e is using Fusion. The best path forward seems to be to continue to pursue Fusion at all sites, but a forecast model could alert our SMEs to potential issues. The models are being refined for greater detail and all hope they serve as a u seful tool. o N90 Fusion: SBS continues to monitor the requested additional five radar inputs at N90 as well as their planned transition to STARS. Resource commitments on the part of the facility, SBS and TAMR make a transition to Fusion unlikely until the additional radars are in place and the faci lity has transitioned to STARS. Despite this fact, we continue to get pressed for an early t ransition to Fusion in CARTS. Doing so would be disastrous as TAMR and SBS would end up clashing for N90 resources needed to support both Fusion and the STARS transition. o Track Based Display Mode (TBDM) in ERAM: SBS Article 48 work group reviewed the results of the Operational Assessment and concluded that it would be appropriate to identify a key site in conjuncti on with the ERAM Article 48 work group. In addition, prototype work has begun on a new display mode, Fused Display Mode (FDM), which is unique in allowing the display update rate to be independent from the surveillance source (similar to other automation platforms). Data on ERAM CPU loading indicates the potential for an FDM HITL with disp lay rates as fast as 3 seconds. Operational success with FDM will be quite dependent on the number of overlapping surveillance sources, as is typical for all Fusion dis play modes. This could limit the potential sites until ADS - B equipage is significantly higher. o Memphis Center (ZME) ADS - B Issue: An AIMS ticket submitted due to an ADS - B avionics issue was discussed. The problem aircraft demonstrated unusual behavio r by "ghosting" anot her target over 200 miles away. Normally this would be eliminated by validation methods within the SBS network, but a unique set of circumstances contributed to this particular occurrence. SBS is working with FSDO to address the avion ics issue as well as working on SBS system improvements to pr event the issue from recurring. o ERAM ADS - B Outage Indications: SBS Article 48 reviewed and compared ERAM ADS - B outage handli ng to other automation systems. ERAM is unique in displaying a " telephone pole" symbol for ADS - B Radio Stations on the control ler's display during an outage. Based on a proposed change by the ERAM NUT, the SBS Article 48 work group would like to refine the handling of ADS - B outages within ERAM to be more consistent wi th other automation platforms and potentially eliminate the need for a "telephone pole" symbol. o Vehicle ADS - B: There appear to be three competing entities that develop the defined, allowable transmit areas for Vehicle ADS - B transmitters: the airports /Towers, the FAA S pectrum Office, and the vendor. Recently it was discovered that the vendor is generating their own transmit maps that may be excluding areas previously identified as allowable; SBS is working with the vendor to modify the areas. FAA Spe ctrum continues to balk at times to transmit areas request by ATC and necessary for their operations. This all leads to a lot of confusion and complexity in developing the final transmit