A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/838362
June 7 - 8: Aaron Rose visited Anchorage TRACON (A11) for an MDM eval uation and R4 software preview. Thank you to Rebecca Cucciarre (A11 FacRep) and Aaron Novak (A11 VP) , what a wonderful facility. Discussed new ways to utilize R4 software and adjusted Main Display Monitors (MDM). TAMR met with the Article 76 consolidation workgroup to discuss the best way for AZO to incorporate five facilities. Talks are still underway but it seems there will be a need for an additional STARS system to handle two IFDT lines. More to come on this subject in the coming months. Throughout the National Airspace System there have been reports of vertical lines or blank screens with the new MDM. NATCA TAMR and TSLE (Second Level Engineering) have worked together to mitigate this issue st emming from analog video feeds. Starting with C90, PHL, and AZO, the agency and Tech Ops will move from an a nalog feed to a digital feed. Testing has occurred at S46 and TPA with good results. If these five facilities do not report any anomalies , this will go nationwide. BNA will have early MDM install due to iss ues with the Sony 2K monitors. Mr. Rose is working with Scott Kendrick and Jeff Woods (NATCA PMO Rep) on both the CRP handoff issues and JCF requ irements for a new STARS system. A JCF s ite visit will occur in July. With TAMR software build R4 it is prudent that each FacRep be aware that training needs to be comple ted throughout the facility prior to loa ding on an operational string. Please ensure to work with the ATM and Tech Ops before this s oftware is used operationally. Telcons this month included: Article 114 telcon, Formation Flight ATPA, JCF trip details, AJ W 145 tracker improvement, STARS Rules, Scoping Doc for ATPA, TWP1, MDM, NCT adaptation issues, TSAS (Terminal Spacing and Sequencing), IOC telcons, JSS telcon, STRWG, weekly TAMR Tag Up, weekly Segment 2 NATCA telcon. Software & Engineering Report Submit ted by Kyle Ness (M98) System Technical Reports Working Group (STRWG) A proposal to change the STARS weather display is currently under review. The functional enhancement replaces the current weather presentation with six precipitation levels represented by the NEXRAD color palette and eliminates stipple graphics. Such a significant change would require extensive CHI analysis and testing to demonstrate that the proposed changes would actually improve the usability of the system and do not create other huma n factors problems. Given the time needed to prototype, evaluate, and validate a NEXRAD presentation, an interim improvement is being considered based on existing requirements. Stakeholders are coordinating a meeting to review the findings of the previous CHI working group and discuss options. Wrong airport landing incidents are 2017 ATO Top 5 Hazard as there have been several instances of flight crews misidentifying and attempting to land at an airport they see during an approach to their destination airp ort. The STRWG is outlining functionality that can alert controllers when an aircraft attempts to land at wrong airport. Depending on certain criteria, if a STARS track enters a filter that has been adapted to provide the alert,