A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/889675
We are in current development for controller training in an ELMS course that was projected to be completed in December, but will likely slide to January/February due to Serco's programmer involved in a serious car acc ident. More to come as it becomes available until then our prayers go out to the programmer for speedy and healthy recovery. At this point if any facility has a desire to adapt ATPA, we need to wait until the ELMS training is complete. Please contact me so we can go over the process and add you to the list. Mike Sanders SoCal TRACON National ATPA Lead laxapproach@icloud.com 913.904.6937 DATACOMM Chad Geyer (ZLA) is the Article 114 Representative for DataComm . Below is his update. Last week Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) sites sent over 5 , 300 clearances a day. This update will give you an idea of what it takes to deploy CPDLC to the En Route environment. The Program Office is responsible for ensuring all work is completed and aligned to meet an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) milestone. There are several areas that must be worked in parallel to include Software, Training, DataComm Network Service (DCNS), Certifications, Site Communicati on, and Airline Operators. These are just a few of the hundreds of things that must be completed. Software This is probably the most complex and time consuming. This begins when the Program Office develops a set of requirements that must be turned into so ftware code. The requirements are worked on the Use Case team made up of engineers, coders, contr ollers, Facility Tech Reps (FTR s) and others. This software also has to work with other systems that deliver the CPDLC service, ranging from ATOP, NavCanada, Flight Management systems of multiple aircraft and manufactures, and network service. The software must also be developed to ensure that controllers can use it safely and efficiently, Technical Operations can manage and maintain it and that it does not i nterfere with other legacy systems in the field. Also once the software is developed, it must be tested to ensure that it works correctly. When issues are found, they must go back to the coders to fix the system and as enhancements are introduced, the test ing process must be enhanced to verify the system works correctly . Training Training development is worked in conjunction with software development. Not only does functionality have to be trained to the controller workforce, but also enhancements to SGET and ghost pilot workstations need new software and functionality to train CPDLC. Tech Ops also needs to be trained on how to monitor the new software and