A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/985247
Q & A Q What is the status of NextGen? A • In order for NextGen to be successfully completed, a stable and predictable funding stream is necessary. • Sequestration, the resulting April 2013 furloughs, and the October 2013 government shutdown created needless delays in the development, design, and implementation of NextGen and increased costs in these key modernization programs for our aviation system. • Thanks to collaboration between the FAA and NATCA, we have achieved several successes on NextGen projects including ERAM, DataComm, and Metroplex. Q Does NATCA support the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)? Q Does NATCA support remote towers? A A • The safe integration of UAS into the NAS is a top priority for NATCA. • It is important to strike a balance between maintaining existing safety levels within the NAS, the potential value of UAS to the economy, and the need for protocols to regulate the wide spectrum of UAS operations. • NATCA believes the widespread commercial application of UAS must not be permitted until the FAA establishes clear and enforceable operating standards. • There are numerous concerns with the possible operation of a remote tower, from human factors to the ability of controllers to identify and maintain visual contact with aircraft in the traffic pattern. • NATCA believes there are technological advancements in remote tower systems that may have a place in the NAS as a way to enhance certain air traffic levels of services, rather than looking at this new technology as a "replacement" for current air traffic control towers (ATCTs). These enhanced levels of service could include: ê As part of a contingency plan, or for possible use to monitor remote airports during midnight operations. ê Assistance with line-of-sight issues at current ATCTs. ê Possibly providing a level of service that may include traffic advisories, but without separation responsibilities. • NATCA currently supports the ongoing remote tower technology test at Leesburg Airport (JYO) in Leesburg, Va., as well as the newly initiated test at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL) in Ft. Collins, Colo. Neither of these airports currently have an ATCT. • NATCA must remain engaged in the discovery, development, and testing of new technologies in order to safeguard the NAS and ensure that the workforce has a voice in all future changes to the NAS. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS/DRONES REMOTE TOWERS 55