A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/773352
SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT DATACOMM Chad Geyer (ZLA) is the Article 114 Representative for Data Comm. Below is his update: Segment 1 Phase 2 (S1P2) is the En Route deployment of Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) service. The key sites for this part of DataComm will be ZKC, ZME , and ZID. The Facility Tech Reps (FTR) have been engaged w ith the program in preparing the requirements needed to activate the CPDLC servi ce at their facilities. The FTR s are building the adaptations that will be needed to use the service at the centers. Adaptations include sector and frequency configurations for all sectors and surrounding centers. These adaptations will ensure that when hand - offs are completed, correct frequency tables are automatically loaded into the Transfer of Communication service. The DataComm Subject Matter Experts (SME) have been worki ng on fine tuning Use Cases and requirements needed to guarantee that the system performs exactly as intended. As functionality is coded, the SME s validate the system is performing correctly. When changes are needed, the SMEs will work with the National Us er Team (NUT) and National Computer Human Interface (CHI) team on requirement changes. The DataComm SME s are also working on facility implementation plans, training development , and procedure development. There are also additional activities that are requ ired prior to deploying to a facility. The group must ensure that training scenarios are developed and ghost pilots are trained. This means that additional activities need to take place almost a year out from the first time the facility starts using DataCo mm operationally. Additional activities that must be completed are validating service volume needs for message delivery and pilot training must be developed. To activate a service volume for a center the requested coverage needs need to be completed about 1 - ½ years out. This time is needed to acquire radio antenna locations for message transmission. Pilot training needs to be completed approximately six months prior to operational use to allow for the airlines to train their pilots. ENROUTE AU TOMATION MOD ERNIZATION (ERAM) Julio Henriques (ZNY) leads the ERAM efforts for NATCA. This update is provided by Dan Mullen (ZID). We were advised that the Agency would stop supporting FRAC tokens on Jan 9th. FRAC tokens allow reps to log into the FAA network remotel y, which is essenti al for the work many of us do. Alternative methods of logging in exist, but don't work on all devices and Apple comput ers are particularly affected. Mark Dillon (A80) led the effort to correct this problem, and he and I had many meetings with FAA IT services and Harris Corporation to find a solution. In the end, a new way to log in was identified, and can be used by NA TCA reps using Apple products. Reps needing access via the new method should contact the Safety and Tech department for de tails. Operational testing of the latest ERAM release, EAD6002u, continues this week at ZSE and ZLC. This version of ERAM has significant changes to en route data blocks, including a Visual Comm Indicator, a portal fence, and lef t - justification of charact ers.