A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/982835
We kicked off the month of May with a TAMR Deployment meeting in Washington , D . C. These annual meetings are a critical piece of the TAMR success. We have so many stakeholders deployed throughout the country at all different sizes and types of facilities, that it becomes critical to get us all together occasionally in order to identify and address program - wide issues as well as to ensure our messagin g is in alignment across all spectrums. Installations, training, and OSF adaptation work is all in full swing as we prepare for six sites to IOC in June, three of which also include the introduction of the Common Terminal Digitizer into the NAS for the first time. May significant TAMR activities: Equipment deliveries : Syracuse (SYR) 5/15/18 Site Surveys : Memphis (MEM) 5/22/18 Dubuque (DBQ) Remote Tower off Cedar Rapids (CID) 5/7/18 Redding (RDD) Remote Tower off Northern California TRACON (NCT) 5/14/18 Initial Operating Capacity (IOC) Buffalo (BUF) 5/12/18 Common Terminal Digitizer (CTD) The CTD program conducted a Suitability Decision Review in Washington , D . C ., on May 2 for the purpose of declaring suitability of the system for key - site IO C activities . With concurrence from all stakeholders, AJV - 723 determined suitability with appropriate Action Plans to address remaining issues via interim mitigation and final solutions. Barring any unforeseen key - site setbacks (key - sites are ROA, RFD, BFL, and JAN), CTD suitability clears the largest of few remaining roadblocks to achievement of the remaining TAMR APB milestones. TAMR Software/Hardware Report Submitted by Kyle Ness (M98) MSAW/CA Board SCT recently reported a false Conflict Alert between two tracks th at were on diverging courses. Analysis revealed the CA algorithm could be adjusted to suppress the false alert while maintaining predicted functionality. The Board reviewed proposed changes and will move ahead with recommended settings. Recent changes to Conflict Alert (CA) floor adaptation settings at Boston Airport has resulted in reducing nuisance alerts for BOS approach paths to parallel runways and runways in close proximity. While the Standards and Guidelines permits OSF specialists to adapt the floo r altitude with supporting data, a software change is needed to permit better processing. Operating Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) No testing for May. Preparations are being made for S6.R8 with Terminal Sequencing and Spacing (TSAS) testing in June. This will be a three - week event drawing on NATCA SMEs from both the TAMR and TSAS teams to evaluate TSAS functionality as it integrates into the STARS baseline. TSAS is a new automation tool that employs time - based flow data into the terminal airspace by displa ying new slot marker graphics to the controller on the STARS display. This is a significant evolution in terminal automation