System To Improve Separation Over US Ocean Airspace
The Federal Aviation
Administration Wednesday accepted the initial hardware and software
for a new air traffic management system that will improve
separation of aircraft flying over US oceanic airspace.
Government Computer News reports Lockheed Martin is developing
Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) to replace the
FAA's existing systems and procedures.
ATOP will let controllers reduce the space between airborne
aircraft while preserving passenger safety and, in the process,
improve fuel efficiency and costs, the company said.
ATOP will increase international air travel capacity and
automate the manual processes now used, a Lockheed Martin
spokeswoman said. The system, which FAA accepted July 31, will
integrate flight data processing, detect conflicts between aircraft
and provide data link and surveillance capabilities.
FAA officials expect to start using the system next June. That
word comes from Charlie Keegan, the FAA’s associate
administrator for research and acquisitions. Full system operation
is scheduled for 2005. By that time, the FAA says it expects the
highest percentage increase in air traffic is to occur across the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
FAA is installing the upgraded system at air route traffic
control centers in Oakland (CA), New York (NY) and Anchorage (AK),
as pilot sites to test the system and to train controllers and
technicians. Oakland will begin using ATOPS in June 2004, said
David Ford, leader, FAA’s Oceanic and Offshore Integrated
Product Team.
Oceanic air traffic
control can't track aircraft by radar. It has no direct radio
communication with pilots. Position reports based on onboard
aircraft navigational systems are radioed to the controller.
Because of the uncertainty in position reporting reliability,
overseas flights have to provide greater separation margins to
ensure safe flights.
The ATOP system will manage approximately 80 percent of the
world's controlled oceanic airspace, which includes about 24
million square miles over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.
The system will be integrated with the radar processing functions
of the microprocessor en route automated radar tracking system,
which will support tracking of aircraft using primary and secondary
radar inputs and automatic dependent surveillance broadcast.