A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/693369
and will require a successful deployment of the CTD to tra nsit ion from ARTS IIE to STARS. o The design of the CTD is promising and could be a lifecycle changer for the aging ASR8s. However, the CTD is currently not passing Design Testing and Evaluation (DT&E) in specific areas. After completion of DT&E , the system mus t pass an Operation Test and Evaluation (OT&E) that includes a user evaluation by NATCA. Install of the CTD has already begun at 1 of the 2 key sites (ROA). The second key site will begin install in one month (RFD). The concern NATCA has voiced strongly is that a slip by the CTD could mortal ly damage the TAMR waterfall. o As a mitigation, NATCA has pushed the Program Office to acquire any and all TDX - 2000 s to keep moving through the TAMR waterfall. It is expected that three additional TDX - 2000s will be insta lled , which will reduce our exposure to a CTD failure to 20 ARTS IIE sites. Training Update submitted by Bill Spence - BTV : • Training initiatives underway : o Several I IE sites with training briefs. o Scheduling and coordinating R4 (Merge Software) training for t he 80 (and counting) sites to transiti on to the TAMR software build. o Moving forward on a common simulation product for terminals across the NAS as part of standardizing simulation across all options. o Working with Program Office and Raytheon on a replacemen t for the TDM. Surveillance update submitted by Joe Yannone - Region X : o Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD): The CTD is an integral part of the back end of the TAMR Segment 2 waterfall to digitize the remaining ASR - 8 radars, as a STARS system only accepts a dig ital radar feed. Initial DTE testing was halted due to p oor performance of the system. The Belgium contractor re - evaluated and re - optimized the system to provide a better performing system, however they still could not meet spec in IBI mode of the Mode S i nterface. While marginally passing spec in the other configurations, a decision was made to install and optimize the two key site facility systems to determine performance characteristics in an operational environment (since the test facility has coverage limitations and the vendor continues to f ight the agency with excuses). The two key sites for the CTD are Rockford (RFD) and Roanoke (ROA). These conditions (poor and marginal performance) bring risk to the CTD schedule , which could then gra vely impact the TAMR schedule. NATCA has strongly recommended to the agency to pursue any and all avenues to acquire or re - configure existing TDX systems to digitize these ASR - 8 facilities to buy some time to fix the issues with the CTD system so as no t to impact the TAM R schedule.