A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/835143
Chris Lloyd (ZDC) participated in the NVS ATC Storyboard review, where Harris went over the planned storyboard and demoed an early version of the CBI. We had several issues over content, presentation, and the learning method being utilized. Next Generation Air - Ground Communication (NEXCOM) continues deployment of new CM300/350 V2 radios to terminal facilities acr oss the country. Some terminal facilities in the NAS using very old radios hear a pop back or " squelch tail " when they release their transmitters. The new radios being deployed under NEXCOM Segment 2 do not have this " feature ," as the squelch tail is gener ally regarded as undesirable radio communications. This issue has cropped up twice now during deployment, and Mr. Shedden is working with the program office on an information br iefing for selected facilities. NAS Voice Recorder Program (NVRP) is the repla cement for existing NAS voice recorders (DALR, DALR2, DVRS, DVR2). The Program Office presented to the JRC and received approval to proceed to Final Investment Analysis, leading up to the Final Investment Decision. Key site for NVRP will be Seattle Center in the 2018 timeframe. Grand Rapids Tower/TRACON (GRR) is reporting multiple issues with their aging voice switch. There ' s one outstanding issue where a RADAR site is causing interference in the t ower c ab. That issue continues to be worked. There were a large number of tone incidences being reported at Potomac TRACON (PCT) . This has also caused NATCA and the FAA to take a closer look at the headsets to determine if they provide adequate protection against these events. On May 17th, NATCA and the FAA colla borated on new guidance for how to handle tone incidences going forward. This new guidance will go into the 7210.3, and the FAA rescinded the memo governing tone incidences from 2007. We are now looking into establishing a workgroup to reduce the number an d severity of tone incidences. RUNWAY SAFETY Bridget Gee (DFW) is NATCA's Runway Safety Act ion Team (RSAT) Representative. She also serves as the Article 114 Representative to the Runwa y Status Lights (RWSL) Program. Below is her report to the membership. Runway Status Lights (RWSL): ORD : Being conducted in three phases: Phase 1, Runway 10L/28R, was turned online April 27, 2016. Phase 2 and 3 are scheduled to come online 2017. Phase 1 (10L/28R): ORD achieved 4/10/17. Phase 2 (10C Enhancement) – 10C tar get operational date Nov 2017. Shelter installation scheduled to begin June 2017 with an installation complete date of 8/31/2017. Phase 3 (9R Enhancement) – 9R construction estimated to be completed Spring 2018 and IOC Fall 2018. DTW : ORD declared 4/20/16 . A site visit is warranted for shadow operations on the 21 L REL s. This will occur prior to IOC. Phase 2 (21L): Cable installation ( two c ircuits) begins June 2017.