A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/654612
• The latest software release (Maintenance Release 1) will be tested at the Technical Center in March and is, assuming it passes testing, scheduled for a June release date. There are over 100 " fixes " being bundled into this build and t esti ng will obviously be extensive. REPRESENTATIVE NEWS: • RUNWAY SAFETY ACTION TEAM (RSAT) REPRESENTATIVE: The NATCA National Executive Board (NEB) confirmed the selection of Bridget Gee (DFW) as the next RSAT Represent ative. o Ms. Gee will replace Ric Loew en (DFW). Mr. Loewen has been a long time NATCA RSAT Representative, former DFW FacRep and the R WSL Article 48 Representative. His work has been excellent and as he moves on the department will miss working with him. • TAMR: Mitch Herrick (MIA) has announced his retirem ent effective in July of 2016. o Mr. Herrick has been a very active Article 48 Represe ntative and he will be missed. The Safety and Technology Department will be working with NATCA Leadership to name a replacement for Mr. Herrick in order t o prov ide a smooth transition. o The department would like to thank Mr. Herrick for his service to the union and his outstanding work on not just TAMR but also the Section 804 work. SURVEILLANCE BROADCAST SERVICES (SBS): The NATCA Surveillance and Broadcast Servi ces (SBS) team includes: Eric Labardini (ZHU), National SBS Article 48 Rep, Craig Bielek (A90), Dan Hamilton (SFO), National Airport Surface Surveillance Capability (ASSC) Rep, Andrew Stachowiak (I90), and Tom Zarick (ZDV), National Interval Management Rep . • ADS - B: o As of this update, 20,423 aircraft are equipped to broadcast with ADS - B Rule compliant avionics in the NAS. The SBS PO rough estimate of avionics installation capacity nationwide is 50,000 aircraft per year. With about 3 years and 9 months to the January 1, 2020 deadline to equip, concern is apparent that equipage levels will fall short of the estimated tota l NAS fleet (100,000 - 160,000). Users that wait too close to 2020 may find that the availability of installers falls short of demand. o ADS - B IOC s have been completed at all En Route (ERAM and MEARTS) facilities. o 74 of 154 t erminal sites have reached their ADS - B IOC and the maj ority are operating on Fusion. The remaining t erminal sites are ARTS 2E sites awaiting an upgra de to the ELITE (STARS) buil d. The Terminal ADS - B/Fusion tran sition proceeds in this order: Kickoff meeting, ADS - B Flight Inspection, ADS - B IOC, Fusion Operational Suitability Demonstration (OSD) and Fusion Operations. The most recent and upcoming Terminal events: Detroit (D21) achi eved Fusion Operational status on Feb 10 Harrisburg (MDT) ADS - B IOC on Feb 11 Greensboro (GSO) Kickoff on Feb 23 Evansville (EVV) ADS - B IOC on Mar 2