A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/905671
The NIDS database team is currently reviewing some of the older databases in use and updating them with features that were not available at the time of their construction. This would be a good time to get your facility on the list for a revie w of your database. If you or your facility have any questions or problems with NIDS please contact the NATCA NIDS Representative, Richie Smith, at IDSR@NATCA.net . N AS VOICE SWITCH (NVS) Jon Shedden (ZFW) represent s the NATCA membership as their Article 114 Rep resentative to the NVS project. His report is below. NAS Voice System (NVS) Factory Acceptance Testi ng (FAT) Dry Run ended June 23 . The system still has stability problems so Harris will continue working on d efect resolution prior to starting formal FAT. Formal FAT was scheduled to start July 18 , but has been officially delayed. The FAA is working with Harris to address the impacts to the deployment s chedule because of this delay. Harris has kicked off Releas e 1.1 Stability Assessment Testing (RSAT) along with rapid development to improve stabil ity in the next several months. Mr. Shedden was in Washington, D.C. , for the NVS Program Management Review (PMR) on Oct. 18 . Mr. Shedden was in Melbourne, Fla. Oct. 2 3 - 27 and Nov. 6 - 10 participating in the RSAT activities. Next Generation Air - Ground Communication (NEXCOM) continues deployment of new CM300/350 V2 radios to terminal facilities across the country. Some terminal facilities in the NAS using very old radios hear a pop back or " squelch tail " when they release their transmitters. The new radios being deployed under NEXCOM Segment 2 do not have this "f eature " as the squelch tail is generally regarded as undesirable in radio communications. This issue has croppe d up twice now during deployment and the program office should brief future affecte d facilities prior to install. NAS Voice Recorder Program (NVRP) is the replacement for existing NAS voice recorders (DALR, DALR2, DVRS, DVR2). The Program Office presented to the JRC and received approval to proceed to Final Investment Analysis, leading up to the Final In vestment Decision. Key site for NVRP will be Seattle Center in the 2018 timeframe. NVRP is currently in the source evaluation phase. Grand Rapids Tower/T RACON (GRR) is reporting multiple issues with their aging voice switch. There ' s one outstanding issue where a RADAR site is causing interference in the t ower c ab. That issue continues to be worked. A Tone Mitigation National Workgroup has been formed. Thi s was a result of a large number of tone incidences being reported at Potomac TRACON (PCT), as well as other places. National selected the following members to represent NATCA on the workgroup: Brandon Miller Don Smith CJ Jacques Jon Shedden The first mee ting was in Washington, D.C. , on Sept. 19 - 20 . The group discussed existing equipment in the NAS, as well as possible future changes. We are currently reviewing minutes from the meeting as well as completing action items as assigned. No date has be en set fo r subsequent meetings.