A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/860752
AT Coach fixes requested by N90 were initially evaluated at Raytheon's Marlborough facility in late July and have since been evaluated on site at N90. Three issues were observed and are currently being examined by Raytheon and UFA to correct the problems. Mr. Ness will travel to L30 and M03 to conduct R4 briefings the end of August. TAMR Deployment and Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) Update Submitted by Scott Robillard (K90) Deployment activity of the fourth generation STARS system (G4) progressed through July 2017 without missing a beat. Three (3) more facilities joined the large number of G4 sites around the country and many more will follow. Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) is a requirement at a large number of ARTS IIE fa cilities in order to transition to STARS. Most ASR8's in the NAS are in a "less than perfect" condition and after years of neglect, immense resources are needed to bring these aging systems up to a level where they can interface with a new digitizer. One o f the benefits of the CTD is that it is partly a modernization project in addition to a requirement to digitize radars. This yields greater detection results. NATCA is determined to ensure that the PMO gets the CTD right prior to mass deployment in the NAS . This creates a unique balancing act between the needs of the aging ASR8, the deployment of the CTD, and the requirements of the TAMR waterfall. During the past month, the following facilities made the transition to G4 STARS: AGS Augusta, GA achieved I OC on STARS G4 ELITE on 7/21/17. PIT Pittsburgh, PA, achieved IOC on STARS G4 on 7/22/17. CMI Champaign, IL, achieved IOC on STARS G4 ELITE on 8/4/17. High - level facility deployment activity that has occurred over the last month: LIT STAMP/Hardware Checkl ist JSS CDRLs received from Raytheon: 7/26/17. ELP Early MDM kits delivery (Raytheon): 7/17 /17. DASI attenuator and modem: Delivered on 7/24/17. With a G4 ELITE system, ELP will have Auto - DASI. Early MDM training will occur on 7/31/17 and will conclude o n 8/1/17. NATCA will be on site for MDM optimization on 8/11/17 SAT Disposition of the legacy STARS G1 system began on 7/24/17. ICT TSLE Shakedown 1 was initiated. This ends in Air Traffic training for STARS transition. K90 As part of the K90 transition t o A90 in realignment; Controller STARS trai ning kickoff meeting occurred. JAX Joint Site Survey (JSS) has been accomplished. HUF Site Implantation Review (SIR) completed. ABQ Contractor Acceptance Inspection (CAI) The G4 STARS ELITE equipment has been ins talled and accepted by the FAA for ABQ. ELM ASR - 8/BI - 5: Engineering Services Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) Pre - Installation (Site Readiness Review 2) was completed. LCH ASR - 8/Mode S: Radar Coverage Assessment 2 (RCA - 2) was completed. ALO ASR - 8/BI - 5 Site: Engineering Services Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) Installation activity began. CKB ATCBI - 5 System Performance Verification (SPV) was completed.