Feeling impatient about the pace of ATC modernization? Apparently, you’ve got plenty of company. The griping began at the recent Senate hearings on NextGen, with opening remarks coming from subcommittee Chairman Byron Dorgan: We need to make progress. Some are talking about NextGen 2020, 2025. In my judgment, that’s a pace that is too slow. [...]
Entries from March 2009
March 28, 2009
Randy Babbitt named FAA Administrator; airline reaction positive so far
From the Wall Street Journal: Friday’s appointment prompted predictable accolades from various labor leaders. But reflecting Mr. Babbitt’s ability to appeal to industry, airline executives and the industry’s main lobbying group also chimed in with expressions of strong support. Glenn Tilton, chairman and chief executive officer of United Airlines parent UAL Corp., said Friday that [...]
March 25, 2009
Hank Krakowski: “We have included controllers in all phases of NextGen so far.”
The FAA’s Hank Krawkowski testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Security today, and summarized the last year’s worth of movement on ATC issues as well as the development of NextGen planning. One of the more interesting portions of Krakowski’s prepared remarks came at the very end, where he specifically addressed the [...]
March 25, 2009
IATA: Airline industry to post $4.7b loss in 2009
The International Air Transport Association released its updated 2009 industry forecast, and the news is grim. Per the Wall Street Journal: For 2009, the IATA said it now expects an aggregate industry loss of $4.7 billion, compared to a loss of $2.5 billion that it forecast in December. “The state of the airline industry today [...]
March 24, 2009
Southwest full steam ahead on RNP upgrade
An interesting story — and admirable reporting — from Henry Canaday at Airline Procurement Magazine about Southwest Airlines’ commitment to Required Navigation Performance: Jeff Martin, senior director-flight operations at Southwest, says RNP has been pursued in four “swim lanes” via FAA, pilots, aircraft and airports. Application for RNP Operation Specifications recently was submitted to FAA [...]
March 19, 2009
Vicky Cox: “Our programs are currently on track, our partnerships are strong.”
At this week’s Aviation Subcommittee hearing on NextGen, the FAA’s Vicky Cox laid out her views on what her agency has accomplished as well as the state of current initiatives. The testimony is fairly lengthy; here two brief excerpts: A year ago, we received several recommendations from varied sources about how we should deliver NextGen. [...]
March 16, 2009
Everything you ever wanted to know about ERAM
Aviation Week has a fine overview of the soon-to-be-deployed En Route Automation Modernization system. A brief excerpt: [The] ERAM system, developed by Lockheed Martin, represents one of the most complex and expensive upgrades the FAA has ever undertaken. ERAM is expected to begin controlling live traffic at the FAA’s Salt Lake City center late this [...]
March 16, 2009
Report: Short-term reauthorization could happen quickly
From Helecopter Association International: HAI has learned the U.S. House of Representatives could vote as early as Tuesday, March 17 to take up a measure to extend the Federal Aviation Administration’s authorization through the end of the fiscal year. The draft bill is scheduled to be considered under suspension of the rules, and should clear [...]
March 13, 2009
Reader opinion: Gingrich’s comments are “hot air talking”
A reader commented on our story “Newt Gingrich: ‘I’m launching an air-traffic modernization project’, as follows: I don’t believe Mr Gingrich really knows much about air traffic control, most of the delays (+75%) are weather related and have nothing to do with the aircraft flying the most direct route unless of course the severe weather [...]
March 12, 2009
TDDS contract goes to Raytheon; will be SWIM-compliant
The DOT has chosen a Raytheon-led team (press release) to develop and roll out the Terminal Data Distribution system, which will: automate flight information, resulting in improved capacity in the nation’s airspace. It will facilitate the exchange of net-enabled data between disparate systems and integrate multiple data sources to better manage the airspace. More information [...]
March 8, 2009
H.R. 915 on the way to Ways & Means
The current version of the FAA reauthorization bill, H.R. 915, has passed the full House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and is on the way to Ways & Means. As we’ve been reporting, the controversy over user fees remains an issue. A short summary from AVweb is here.
March 4, 2009
Newt Gingrich: “I’m launching an air-traffic modernization project”
So you know how Al Gore invented the internet? Well, apparently Newt Gingrich invented NextGen. Just read this NYT profile: Gingrich laid out for me his latest preoccupation, which, surprisingly, had nothing to do with stimulus or banking. “One of the projects I’m going to launch — we don’t have a name for it yet [...]
