A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/843966
Initial discussions have started regarding deploying ASSC at possibly 50 additional airports, not currently on the ASSC waterfall list that do not currently have surface Surveillance. It is the intent to deploy those systems without SMR. A timeframe to con duct an SRMP to address the future sites has yet to be determined. FMA in Fusion: Operational evaluation and SRMP have concluded. Additional Sep Standards analysis of IBI mode has delayed the completion of the SRMD slightly, and an operational start of FMA use of Fusion is now planned for the end of July 2017. Future Surface Surveillance: Dan Hamilton Participated in Industry in Washington D.C. on June 15th. The agency is in the research phase of what will replace the aging ASDE3 radar in addition to p arts obsolescence issues with other SMR's (surface movement radars) currently in use in the NAS. MEARTS Fusion: HCF started Fusion operations on February 22, 2017, a significant achievement after years of effort. Unfortunately, a number of latent radar issues have resulted in a pause in Fusion operations just days after the start. Second Level Engineering and LEIDOS have generated recommended adaptation changes. These and minor changes to MEARTS are to be evaluated at HCF mid - July. HCF intends to re start Fusion mid - August 2017 after the software changes have completed their signature approval process. Several SBS support efforts are planned in July. Efforts to continue deploying 3NM Fusion in MEARTS at other sites have been postponed until key site issues are fully resolved. Surveillance Portfolio Analysis Work Group Eric Labardini and James Keith (NATCA AJV - 7) have been working closely with the Agency's multifaceted analysis of post 2020 radar infrastructure needs. The ADS - B business case was bui lt on an assumption that today's robust radar infrastructure could be reduced once ADS - B becomes the predominant surveillance source. The Agency built their business case on an assumption that 100+ secondary radar sources could be removed throughout the N AS. This causes concern in airspace that does not require ADS - B (many Class D or other Approach Controls). NATCA has been pointing toward another option, removing overlapping radar sources completely rather than harming operational capabilities nationwid e. There seems to be an awakening to this idea and analysis of the benefits is underway. Terminal Fusion: The Fusion Focus Group continues to track and resolve facility reported issues with Fusion. These are largely issues with the underlying surveillance infrastructure, and experts from all fields are available to assist. Please report any issues to your OSF and our NATCA SBS group for assistance. It is critical that actual data is recorded for evaluation and resolution. NATCA remains very f ocused on the Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) effort necessary to incorporate numerous ASR - 8 sites into STARS Elite as well as Fusion.