A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/870884
WEEKLY UPDATE FROM FAA ATO COO TERI BRISTOL A NexCom Milestone Hi everyone. Here in the ATO, so many of our critical operations are based on our ability to clearly and reliably communicate with each other and with our customer s in the air and on the ground. If controllers and pilots can't speak to each other, we can't perform our critical public safety function. I'm pleased to report that voice communication is among the many systems that we are making improvements to across the NAS, as ATO engineers and technicians continue to replace 60,000 outdated air - to - ground radios with NextGen - rated radios. In 2013, the agency's NexCom program completed replacement of all radios used at the centers for managing high - altitude t raffic, and the program is currently upgrading the communication systems at towers, TRACONs , and flight service stations. In the last week of July, NexCom deployed its 5,000th terminal - environment radio to the Remote Communications Out let (RCO) in Paducah, Kentucky. The NexCom program is on track to complete deployment throughout the country by 2026. Users of the new system report that it provides clearer and crisper audio feedback, while filtering out much of the background noise. The new radios also meet the international standard for voice - over - Internet protocol (VoIP), which transmits voice calls over a broadband Internet connection instead of using a traditional analog phone line. The switch to VoIP technology supports the FAA's contingency planning ef forts accelerated by the 2014 Chicago Center fire by enabling facilities to switch frequencies over to neighboring air traffic centers much more quickly and efficiently in the case of an emergency. The NexCom radios replace equipment the FAA acquired in 1 967 through a contract with the U.S. military. The old radios used crystals to meet specific frequencies, but the NexCom radios are tunable from the front panel. If controllers need more channels to communicate with pilots, we can break the channels into t hirds. Not only is the signal cleaner, but the frequencies can be put closer together with less interference from other channels. The new system also benefits the FAA by reducing maintenance costs. The former radios contain many obsolete parts that made r epairing them an ordeal for technicians. The new radios, manufactured by General Dynamics, come with a 10 - year warranty. All installation of the air - to - ground communication systems is done in - house by Engineering Services and Technical Operations. But bef ore these systems can be installed, they must be tested and evaluated by the PMO's Air - to - Ground Communications Branch based at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, NJ. This office is the first to receive the radios from the vendor and is responsible for validating that all FAA specifications are met and that the radios work properly. Technical experts test the radios in a laboratory to determine whether they are operationally suitable for the air traffic control environment, and the ra dios are then