A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/860752
TAMR Soft ware/Hardware Report Submitted by Kyle Ness (M98) : System Technical Reports Working Group (STRWG) Stakeholders are currently evaluating a software enhancement that would allow STARS to display the NAS assigned altitude (provided by ERAM - field 8) either on the data block or in a flight plan readout. Currently ERAM sends STARS the assigned altitude information, which STARS promptly discards. The new enhancement would allow STARS to accept assigned altitude and amend the terminal flight plan accordingly. Th is would benefit controllers at terminal facilities that do not use strips because they could view the assigned altitude without having to access the flight plan via FDIO. This function would also use the NAS assigned altitude for auto - handoff processing ( AHOP) by adding assigned altitude to the adapted set of qualifying criteria. Operating Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) S6.00R4b Run for Record began August 1 and ends August 9. NATCA SMEs from P50, D10, PHL, A80, M98, and TPA are participating. R4b is a der ivative of the R4 build that allows legacy STARS G1/G2 sites to transition G4 X3000 processors and upgrade normally along the baseline path. Testing is focused on baseline functionality on the old and new processors. OT&E for S6.00R6 drop 8 is scheduled S eptember 12 - 14 OT&E for S6.00R7 drop 3 is scheduled October 17 – November 2. Program Trouble Report Working Group (PTRWG) NATCA SMEs from M98 and TPA attended the July meeting at the tech center. Several PTRs were evaluated and ranked by the workgroup. N ATCA elevated a request to allow STARS to use recorded radar data for AT Coach scenario generation. Currently all simulation training scenarios must be manually created. Using recorded data would not only save significant time, but would give facilities th e option to use real - life traffic situations for enhanced training and unusual situations. NATCA also elevated two reports related to weather and a report that enhances handling of flight plans between En Route and terminal facilities. MSAW/CA Board The b oard met July 31, 2017 to discuss pending changes to the Standards and Guidelines document. The group also discussed how to more effectively engage Air Traffic and NATCA during meetings and email exchanges. It was decided to include NATCA in all future SRM meetings and dialogue. STARS Software Planning A strategic software - planning meeting was held July 27. Hardware/Software interdependencies were a focus of the stakeholder discussion since pending tech refresh deployment activity (X3000 processors and Xtr eme routers) is reliant on software builds that has yet to be fielded. NATCA is reviewing the controller training aspects of the proposed software upgrade path(s) as well as potential impact to controllers by transitioning both software and hardware in qui ck succession. Field Support