A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/698751
An Agency JRC decision on June 22 marked a change in directio n for Space Based ADS - B (SBA). The most recent SRMD highlighted the fact that introducing SBA in the limited manner proposed under the Ingest & Process phase actually introduces numerous operational concerns. Alleviating the risks identified would have resulted in expensive, one - time modifications to ATOP. The Agency appears to have regrouped and now int ends to discard the Ingest & Process effort in favor of the longer term Reduced Oceanic Separation (ROS) effort. ROS safety work continues and the most recent ROS SRMP identified numerous potential ris ks that have yet to be ranked. The biggest concerns po int to the nature of procedural operations and limitations on communicat ion in an oceanic environment. Whether SBA or any other technology will actually lead to a reduction in separation standards will largely depend on the answer to this question. Termi nal Fusion: NATCA SBS and NATCA TAMR team members evaluated a change in pixel setting for Tower Display Worksta tions (TDW) at the Tech Center. The proposed change reduces the pixel size and appears to resolve an issue with the TDW Fused position symbol w hen ranged out to 60NM. AJV - 7 is trying to determine whether an SRMD is needed be fore the change can be made. NATCA believes the change is an adaptation parameter within STARS and does not modify the STARS SRMD requirements. The Surveillance Automation A lternatives Team (SAAT) continues to meet to discuss long - term solutions for the surveillance problems that SCT is facing in the Los Angeles basin, as w ell as other key areas for SCT. The immediate concern is how to enhance the coverage on the LAX finals and protect against the impact of the construction of the new NFL Stadium in Inglewood. Current ideas being considered are raising the Long Beach Radar to a height that will give it a better line of sight to the LA finals and the possibility of introducin g WAM to the LA Basin to reinforce the surveillance in that area. SCT experienced a significant ADS - B avionics issue on June 11 affecting trackin g for one United B787 aircraft. It is clear that the issue lies withi n the B787 aircraft's avionics. This was a known issue in older avionics sets that are not presented to controllers (ADS - B Version 1). When the issue occurs, the onboard ADS - B avionics loses accurate position data fro m the onboard position source. The last known position and trajectory continu e to be reported until po sition information is restored. For controllers, this appeared as if the aircraft had missed a turn and co ntinued on their last heading. All indications were that the issue had been resolved with their upgrade to US ADS - B Rule co mpliant versions (ADS - B Version 2), but obviously this air craft ne eds more investigation. Of all B787 aircraft in operation, the issue has only been seen on this Unite d B787 and one AeroMexico B787. NATCA continues to press the Agency to issue an emergency Airworthiness Directive for the aircraft in question, but to date we have seen no clear indication that the aircra ft's issues have been resolved. The lac k of response to this issue represents a clear danger to operations. Vehicle ADS - B: 845 vehicles equipped at 16 a irports. An outreach briefing took place at PDX on June 14th. The facility and a irport are very interested in having the vehicles equip.