A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/957324
an important, albeit highly interim, step to the desired end state of integrating Space Ops with the legacy NAS. Joint Space Operations Group (JSpOG) NATCA continues to participate in the bi-weekly meetings of this ATCSCC-based Ops group. The JSpOG is the primary FAA operational interface with the Commercial Space Industry for LOA creation and launch/recovery support activities. The JSpOG currently is in the process of negotiating or implementing 30 LOAs for active or proposed spaceports throughout the NAS. The JSpOG supported numerous Launch and Recovery events this month, including providing airspace management plans for multiple Space-X Falcon 9 launches and the ATLAS-V GOES launch. Additional meetings were held to discuss the interim use of Acceptable Level of Risk (ALR) procedures, pending full ALR rollout later in 2018-19 timeframe. I will provide a deeper dive on ALR in a future update. Commercial Space Integration Team (CSIT) The Commercial Space Integration Team (CSIT) latest monthly meeting occurred on Feb. 27. Topics on the Agenda included additional AJI-3 Acceptable Level of Risk (ALR) briefing, Captive Carry Safety Panel Update, Airspace Access Priorities Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) activities, Spaceport Categorization ARC activities, and ATO Commercial Space Roadmap update. Both ARCs kicked off during this update cycle with Spaceport ARC recommendations due in 60 days and Priorities ARC recommendations due in 180 days. Collaborative Steering Group (CSG) NATCA continues to participate in the monthly leadership meetings of the CDM leadership. The CSG consists of representatives from various industry stakeholders including the airlines and NBAA. CSG delegates and oversees the work of multiple CDM sub-teams on which NATCA Representatives participate. Paired Approach Interval Management (PA-IM) at SFO Improved Multiple Runway Operations (IMRO) is a core program of the NextGen Portfolio. Closely Spaced Parallel Runways (CSPR) have historically been defined as parallel runways spaced less than 4,300 feet, but at least 700 feet apart. Currently, simultaneous arrivals to CSPR are permissible when visual approaches are conducted and flight crews can provide visual separation with traffic on the parallel approach. Another enhancement of the Nextgen IMRO portfolio is the implementation of simultaneous dependent approaches for CSPR less than 2,500 ft. as defined in FAA Order JO 7110.308C. Paired Approach Interval Management (PA-IM) is an attempt to further increase capacity during CSPR simultaneous dependent approaches by using ADS-B technology to more closely emulate visual approach spacing throughput in ILS Category I conditions. The Paired Approach (PA) procedure leverages Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) Out for the lead aircraft and ADS-B In for the trail aircraft to generate a speed command displayed on cockpit avionics to maintain this spacing. Because of its fleet mix and runway design, SFO is a highly scrutinized airport for such capacity improvement technologies. NATCA participated, on Feb. 20 at NCT and Feb. 21 at SFO Tower, in advance meetings in preparation for a four-day February 2019 Field Demo of Paired Approach Interval Management technology. Program managers from NextGen made presentations