A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/913906
implementation leads. Aaron Rose (Article 114), Joe Yannone (Region X), Jim VanZee (GRR), Chris Falcone (MDT), Scott Robillar d (A90), and Bill Spence (BTV) discussed the state of CTD (Common Terminal Digitizer), SME participation/assignments, and facility issues. CTD issues still haunt the TAMR waterfall. NATCA is in the process of assisting the agency in mitigating weather and maintenance issues while still protecting the interests of controllers. NATCA has requested a SRMP (Safety Risk Management Panel) for future deployment of the CTD. With the issues plaguing the system we want to ensure the system is safe for facilities and mitigations are in place. There will be an operational test in January; VanZee, Yannone, Richard Thomas (GEG) , and Hugh Wyckoff (TLH) will attend for the Union. During this reporting period ABQ, RDG, RST, and GTF all transitioned from either legacy STARS or ARTS IIE. Thank you to each facility for their assistance to make for smooth transitions. The work that goes into each cutover is immense and takes 18 to 24 months to complete beginning to end. That's f rom the initial site survey to training and cutove r. We should be proud of the NATCA members throughout the country who come together from the facility level to the national level. We have now reached the 50 percent mark on Phase 1 (legacy STARS) transitions. 2018 will be a busy year for Phase 1 sites a nd NATCA TAMR is here to ensure the next 50 percent go as smooth as the first. During the week of Nov . 13, Mr. Rose was in Atlantic City for testing of R4c software, which pasted the Air Traffic portion but not the Tech Ops portion; talks are commencing about a Tech Ops software drop to mitigate issues. During testing the team broke away to look at the new TDM (Tower Display Monitor) and trackballs. The new TDM will support facilities toward the end of the waterfall and replacements in the field due to fa ilures of the current model. This first look was well received but additional operational testing and evaluation needs to be completed. The new trackballs finally passe d the last operational test. They have finally been approved by NATCA, PASS, and the D OD. It does not use rollers like conventional trackballs but optics. They're not as susceptible to dirt, which clogs and makes current trackballs unusable. NATCA is looking to keysite a couple new ones at PCT. Software wise, NATCA and AJV finally agreed o n how to implement formation flight ATPA (automated terminal proximity alert) standards. This will be included within software sometime in late 2018 or early 2019. TAMR Article 114 meeting was held Nov . 7th. Topics for the telcon - only meeting included AS R11 modifications for weather, CTD weather modifications, including new weather sources in STARS, and dates for future meetings. Testing has begun on a modification to ASR11 radars to improve and delete AP/False weather. NATCA TAMR is pushing with NATCA Re gion X to move this into the CTD. In today's terminal environment, the only weather source is from ASR 8/9/11 radars. NATCA TAMR is working closely with Matt Tucker (Article 114 WX) and the agency to acquire a new source of weather for terminal facilities.