A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/713778
28 facilities in 28 months from ARTS IIE to STARS . September will be a challenging month for the program with 5 more fa cilities making the transition. Challenges overcome: TLH ASR8 was brought up to a level where IOC was achieved on the TDX - 2000 (RADAR digitizer) and STAR S G4 Elite. The site is still experiencing significant challenges with the radar, but si gnificant gains have been made. FAI also achieved IOC. The uniqueness of the location, m ilitary long range radars, low staffing, and heavy influx of summer traffic and military exercises were overcome to have a seamless transition. Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) is scheduled for September. This inclu des a user evaluation at the tech center and at an operational site, which is RFD. NATCA will also have a NATCA Engineer attend the tech ops portion of the OT&E to ensure our Region X members have input and influence necessary to properly represent the mem bers in OESG and high levels of the agency. Report from TAMR Software and Engin eering lead Doug Peterson (D10): Enhanced Conflict Alert (CA) software changes implemented last month at N90 have not generated any reported negative consequences. We will conti nue to monitor and if the positive trend continues we expect to deploy the improved adaptation settings across the NAS. Chicago TRACON (C90) has reported an abund ance of conflict alert alarms. NATCA is working closely with TSLE and OSF to mitigate nuis anc e alarms. Software changes are in the works from Raytheon and will be fu lly vetted by NATCA TAMR SMEs. NATCA SMEs from BTV, D01, M98, F11, MKE , and D10 participated in software testing at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for R3C drop 8 and R5 dro p 2 software. Maintaining the multiple software versions across Legacy STARS, ELITE STARS and new G4 modernized STARS baselines continues to provide workload and scheduling challenges. QWERTY keyboard testing is moving forward in the next couple month s wit h nine test facilities. The QWERTY keyboards will be installed in the training labs and tested for viability. These keyboards are the same as the Do D uses at terminal facilities. Forms will be provided for comment at the facilities. TERMINAL FLIGHT DATA M ANAGER (TFDM): Matt Baugh (IAH) is the Arti cle 48 Representative for TFDM. Mr. Baugh's update is below. A Post Award Conference (PAC) was held at the Lockheed Martin (LM) facili ty in Rockville, MD July 20th. There, LM went over their interpretation of the contract timelines, which included numerous early user events, testing dates and strategies, and an early stab at a waterfall. Also included was LM ' s TFDM build plan, which stated TFDM would be packaged into two builds, versus the contract' s allowed three builds. This combination of the builds increased the waterfall schedule from a completion date in late 2029 or 2030, to an Initial Operating Capacity (IOC) in December of 2027 and an Operational Readiness Demonstration (ORD) sometime in the second quarter of 2028. Workgroups with LM have begun, discussing everything from requirements, interface, human factor s, system security, risk, etc. A request for one full time and two part time TFDM SME s was sent up the FAA chain last week and should make its way out t his week or next to help with the workgroups and test ing and implementation of AEFS. Two Operational Evaluation Review s (OER) are planned for the week of 9/12 - 1 5, at MDW and ORD, separately. The purpose of this meeting is to give the facilities an early vi ew of what TFDM is, how it will impact their facili ty, and when it will be there. NATCA and management representatives from each facility are invited, along with the TMU, major industry at each facility, as well as lead ramp personnel.