NATCA Bookshelf

Enhanced validation (EV) shows the most promise operationally as it is a real time response to invalid ADS-B targets. The latest update to EV already deployed within 15nm around a Terminal Radar has shown positive results. Additional EV techniques are being investigated to expand the range beyond 15nm and further increase the responsiveness. Additional EV parameters should be in place in 2018. With 2020 approaching rapidly, these changes are needed sooner than later to limit the sporadic effects of non-compliant avionics. SBS Article 114 work group discussions resulted in all B787 aircraft being placed on the NSAL. These aircraft have a latent avionics issue that causes false position information to be displayed to the controller. This has alarmed several facilities and caused both SCT and NCT to demote ADS-B in their sort cell priorities. Boeing released a Service Bulletin to address the problem. United, American, and many others have confirmed completing the Service Bulletin allowing them to be removed from the NSAL. Other B787 aircraft are slowly being pulled off of the NSAL as verification of the Service Bulletin is received by Flight Standards. Advanced IM A-IM Requirements documents nearing completion. Scheduled for end of March. Paired Approach HITL in April still being finalized. Still a lot of concern as to how .308 rule will be applied in the scenarios. Paired Approach Meeting held at NCT and SFO with facility leaders and the NextGen office about a flight test to be conducted at SFO in February 2019. Concerns surrounding proposed month and time of the day requested for this flight test were made known. AIRS ConOps review starting this month. ASDE-X Tech Refresh: If the Taxiway alert enhancement is deployed on a national scale, the PMO would need to take control. As of right now, SEA is the only facility scheduled to receive this enhancement. Discussions continue regarding parts obsolescence and what the best path is moving forward in addition to increasing bandwidth capacity as traffic levels increase in the NAS. ASDE3 radar discussions continue as the agency struggles to decide if they should go the tech refresh route, or full replacement route. No decisions have been made at this time. The agency is starting to align ASDE-X with ASSC on the software systems side. Although controllers will not yet have all the same functionalities on both systems, it will allow for improved system performance and fine-tuning capability, which controllers will benefit from. The goal in time is for both systems to be equal on the software and controller capability aspects. ASSC: ASSC Field familiarization at CVG began on February 15th. The facility is very happy with the system thus far. System adjustments are taking place, as things are fine tuned for IOC.

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