A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/793416
The TAMR waterfall continues to press forward to replace all ARTS I IE system and legacy STARS systems in the NAS. While all programs encountered obstacles along the way, the TAMR program has a hard stop issue with the Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD). Afte r over two years of development and several testing events, the CTD is months behind schedule and is threatening to do something to the TAMR program that has not occurred since reinitiated in 2010: m iss milestones and not be able to deploy. During this past update period, NATCA has assisted the PMO in meeting with the CT D vendor, evaluating schedules and proposed fixes. To seek resolution, NATCA and the PMO are planning a test group to be on site at RFD while the vendor, along with the FAA, tries to optimize the RFD ASR8 to a level sufficient that it is suitable for air t raffic use. The concept is to have real time feedback to the technicians and engineers to diagnose and fix the issues. While that is occurring, the rest of the team will be working to design a software solution for the remaining issues with CTD. At least t wo (2) more software drops will be needed to digitize the ASR8s in the NAS with a CTD. On its current schedule, the first possible time a CTD could digitize an ASR8 and achieve IOC is expected to be December 2017. For context, the system was originally sch eduled to IOC its first system November 2016. These delays are threatening the TAMR waterfall. CTD is funded by and responsible to the TAMR PO. While TAMR adjusts the waterfall to gain as much time as possible to allow for CTD to digitize radars, we are a lso adjusting the waterfall to install Remote Towers at Akron (CAK), Lansing (LAN), Grand Rapids (GRR), Saginaw (MBS), Mansfield (MFD), Erie (ERI), Flint (FNT), and Muskegon (MKG) in lieu of full TRACONs. These sites are being removed from the TAMR waterfa ll as part of S804 Realignment. While this is a small change for the program, we understand it is an extremely large change for each facility. The NATCA TAMR team will endeavor to ensure the membership receives the systems they need to work traffic in thei r new configuration. Other high level activity during the update period: Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) Discrepancy Review Board (DRB) Bi - m onthly, all DRs on the CTD are reviewed and ranked so that they can be addressed via hardware or software. With the noted failures of the CTD program and the strict TAMR timeline requirement s, CTD activity cannot be under appreciated. MKE Joint Site Survey (JSS) This activity is when the vendor surveys and develops the equipment order for STARS equipment. PIT Site Implantation Review (SIR): The SIR is the activity where the PO reviews all site prep work to ensure the site is ready for equipment delivery and install of STARS. ACT Site Implantation Review (SIR): The SIR is the activity where the PO reviews all site prep work to ensure the site is ready for equipment delivery and install of STARS. DAB Initial Operating Capacity (IOC) Achieved on Jan 28, 2017: DAB transitioned from G1 STARS to G4 STARS. D21 Initial Operating Capacity (IOC) Achieved on Feb 12, 2017: D21 transitioned from G1 STARS to G4 STARS.