A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/977826
NATCA Safety & Tech Update Week of April 30, 2018 DATACOMM Chad Geyer (ZLA) is the Article 1 14 Representative for DataComm. Below is his update. Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) sites are now sending over 45,000 clearances a week. Clearances are being sent to 11 US Mainline Carriers, 44 International Carriers, multiple Business J et users and 56 aircraft types. New operators include Lufthansa, Polar Air Cargo and Atlas Air. The 12.5 build for TDLS (Tower Data Link Services) is still being developed. This build included major enhancements to increase the availability of Auto Mode f or our towers. The build also includes fixes for certification from the centers and site issues that have been found over the last 6 months. We are trying to get the build out to the sites as soon as possible, but we want to ensure that each build deployed is more stable than the last. Three sites are now running a version of EAE100. These sites are ZTL, ZLC and ZME. EAE100 along with the delta builds include the code to turn CPDLC on in the En Route environment. The first planned turn on of CPDLC should be in June of this year. The current plan is to have multiple delta builds at the key sites to support additional functionality during the different phases of the deployment and to provide an avenue for fixes that may be needed for the key sites. The Progra m Office visited with ZJX, ZHU and ZDV over the last month to brief them on what is coming with En Route CPDLC. The briefings are a two - day site visit with as many personnel as possible to discuss Functionality, CHI, Program Status, Procedures, Network Ser vice Coverage, Training, DataComm Functional Verification and IOC. SGET and Ghost Pilot training continues at the key sites. The Program Office is also continuing to train National Training Cadre, Test and Training Lab SME's, Ghost Pilot SME's and SGET de velopers along with the CPDLC delta courses. The Program office and Technical SME's have been coordinating with ATOP and NavCanada personnel to discuss requirements and adaptation settings for CPDLC turn on in the U . S. The Program Office is also sending members of the Core Tower Team to CPDLC tower sites to update them on their benefits information and answer any questions the facility may have on how the system works. MDW is the first site we are visiting. ENTERPRISE - INFOR MATION DISPLAY SYSTEM (E - IDS) Amanda Richardson ( ZOA) is the Article 114 Representative for Enterprise - Informatio n Display System (E - IDS) work. Mrs. Richardson's report for the membership is below. Background The Enterprise Information Display System (E - IDS) project aims to replace al l existing IDSs in the NAS, providing the Agency with one enterprise solution across facility types. While some customization is, necessary and should be available, one system will reduce overall costs for upkeep and training and resolve the upcoming end - o f - life issues we have with our current IDSs in the field (IDS - 4, ERIDS, etc.). The project is working