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Introduction
Technology advancement is a requirement for all public systems where users come in large numbers. One such critical functioning system is the Air Traffic Control system of the America. America’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) system had been running for the past 40 years and catering to the burgeoning traffic at the airports. At any given time in the United States, approximately 7000 aircraft are flying in the country’s airspace. The country’s air traffic system had been catering to the ever increasing demand. However, it became a need of the hour for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to upgrade its ATC to a new and modern system. FAA has been working towards an upgrade of its ATC to a new system that would replace the existing ATC system. FAA has been working on a complex and novel technology that would modernize the ATC system. This new technology would be implemented in different phases. There is much excitement in the FAA with regards to NextGen, and most observers are terming the enhancement as a need of the hour and a necessary change (Breselor, 2015; Olcott, 2012).
Technology Selected: Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)
NextGen is the latest technology that has been developed by FAA for upgrading its air transportation system. NextGen has been under development by FAA for a long time, but now it has made tremendous progress and FAA is on the verge implementing the NextGen system. NextGen enables air traffic controllers with enhanced tools for tracking and separating aircraft with safety and efficiency. Pilots would have access to more cockpit information and would have an ability to fly aircraft on more efficient routes. NextGen would enable aircraft to reach their destinations faster with a lower burning of fuel and low aircraft exhaust emissions. NextGen is a major shift towards modernization of air transportation. NextGen integrates existing procedures, policies, and technologies with their new counterparts and uses advanced digital communications along with satellite navigation. NextGen caters all the aspects of air traffic management that include automation, enterprise information management, communication, navigation, surveillance, safety and environment sustainability ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – NextGen Works", 2016).
Functioning and Working of NextGen
NextGen is a state-of-the-art technology that enables aircraft to move directly from one location to another improving both the time and fuel efficiency. NextGen works in collaboration of FAA with the aviation industry, unions, airlines, airports, and local and state governments. NextGen leverages satellite-based technology that provides a higher coverage for aircraft and enables efficient separation between them. The main components of NextGen advancement include ERAM (En route automation modernization), DSS (Decision Support Systems), Weather reporting, CATM (Collaborative Air Traffic Management), and TAMR (Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement). NextGen’s digital data is managed by SWIM (System Wide Information Management) while futuristic communication models are used using Data Comm (Data Communications) and NVS (National Airspace Voice System). NextGen’s other capabilities include Performance Based Navigation (PBN), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – NextGen Works", 2016).
ERAM (En Route Automation Modernization)
NextGen consists of an upgrade and standardization of the existing computer system of the ATC. This up gradation includes ERAM that combines surveillance data from ADS-B with flight plan information. ERAM automates the ATC functions and enables the center controllers to have information beyond the boundaries of their airspace thereby providing a higher visibility and enhancing their efficiency. ERAM was made functional in early 2015, and it enhances the national airspace system’s capacity and its’ efficient use. ERAM is a state-of-the-art and one the most complex technological advancements in FAA history. ERAM enhances the flight plan processing with a 4-D trajectory for each flight ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
DSS (Decision Support Systems)
DSS consists of Time-based Flow Management (TBFM), traffic flow management system (TFMS) and terminal flight data manager. Each of these three components of DSS has specific capabilities, but they are integrated and work together to provide a collaborative, responsive and efficient traffic flow management that reduces delays for each flight. The DSS shares data with all the stakeholders of air traffic. TFMS is the primary system for implementing and planning all initiatives related to traffic management while TBFM uses time instead of distance is a primary factor for air-traffic control. DSS provides an optimized traffic flow across NAS (National Airspace System). DSS enables decision making in the rapidly changing environment and brings the power of modern processors with their speed and analytical capabilities ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
NextGen Weather
The NextGen weather program is a critical component of the Nextgen system, and it helps in reducing the impact of the changing weather on the aviation system, thereby facilitating efficient and safe daily operations for the National Airspace System (NAS). The NextGen weather system consists of a massive computing power with advanced forecasting and processing capabilities. NextGen weather can provide tailored weather products that would help operators and controllers to improve on-time performance and make better decisions. This system would make the weather system more predictable resulting in fewer flight delays, and flight cancellations. The weather system would reduce refueling stops and enhance the accuracy of flight schedules ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
CATM (Collaborative Air Traffic Management)
CATM helps in of flight and flow decision-making through the use of flight planners that help the traffic managers enhance the efficiency of NAS. CATM provides flexibility and creates flight planners that make the best use of the available airport capacities and the airspace. CATM benefits include capacity planning, flexibility, reduced congestion, efficiency and optimization of airflow trajectories ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
TAMR (Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement)
TAMR combines multiple technologies for air traffic control into a single STARS platform (State-of-the-art Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System). STARS is a foundational technology of NextGen, and it enables other capabilities such as ADS-B. STARS is used by air traffic controllers to provide services to pilots in the airspace surrounding major airports with heavy air traffic ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
SWIM (System Wide Information Management)
SWIM is the digital backbone of NextGen used for data and information sharing capabilities. SWIM is used to connect users and producers of data as a single destination of all information and data related to flight, weather, and aeronautics. SWIM allows all stakeholders to access and share real-time data and information ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
Data Comm (Data Communications)
Data Comm is another futuristic technological capability of NextGen that allows controllers to send clearance and digital instructions to pilots. Data Comm capabilities enhance the use of aircraft, airspace, with efficient routing and fewer adjustments ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
NVS (National Airspace Voice System)
NVS is a secure and digital voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) technology that expands across all geographies and is a smarter alternative to the existing analog point-to-point voice switch technology ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
PBN
PBN utilizes satellite and onboard equipment for providing accurate navigational procedures. PBN routes and procedures are more precise than standard avionics and other ground-based navigational systems. PBN provides an aircraft capabilities to fly directly from one point to another using satellite signals, making it possible to use closely spaced and parallel routes and also aircraft can descend to lower minimum altitudes when crossing high terrains ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
Safety and Sustainability
ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) is a successor to radar and uses GPS satellite technology to accurately determine an aircraft’s location, velocity, and altitude. NextGen technology components enhance the safety for all aircraft passengers and operators during each phase of the flight. FAA has invested heavily in the NextGen system to allow better access to airports and connected the national airspace. NextGen provides procedures and products that save fuel, reduce the impact of noise, and also reduce the aircraft emissions ("Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen", 2016).
Benefits of the Technology
NextGen is a state-of-the-art new generation technology that brings together all the latest technological advancements catering to all the sections of the aviation industry. NextGen enhances the aviation experience of the passengers, pilots and ground controllers. NextGen optimizes the flight plans, reducing the time required for flights. NextGen enhances the fuel efficiency and reduces aircraft emissions. NextGen reduces air traffic congestion, and separation minimums between aircrafts. It provides enhanced communications levels between pilots and air traffic controllers. NextGen provides an enhanced weather reporting system as well that further reduces the flight cancellations and flight delays thereby improving the daily flight operations (Houston, 2016).
Disadvantages of the Technology
A major challenge with the NextGen is that it requires all aircraft’s to install new equipment increasing the cost liability for aircraft in particular with regards to the ADS-B system. Another disadvantage or a challenge with the NextGen system is the security concern. The advanced and interconnected technologies bring efficiency but at the cost of security. Security concerns are high especially with regards to the ADS-B system which is highly susceptible and vulnerable to hacking such as RF attacks (Strohmeier, Schäfer, Lenders & Martinovic, 2014).
References
Breselor, S. (2015). Why 40-Year-Old Tech Is Still Running America’s Air Traffic Control.
Retrieved January 21, 2017, from https://www.wired.com/2015/02/air-traffic-control/
Houston, S. (2016). NextGen in a Nutshell: The Next Generation Air Traffic System.
The Balance. Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.thebalance.com
/nextgen-in-a-nutshell-282561
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – NextGen Works. (2016). Faa.gov.
Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/works/
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) – Delivering NextGen. (2016). Faa.gov.
Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/delivering/
Olcott, J. (2012). BusinessAviationVoice: The Agony and Ecstasy Of NextGen: The Air Traffic
Control System Of The Future. Forbes. Retrieved 21 January 2017,
/the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-nextgen/#2b7e07df5733
Strohmeier, M., Schäfer, M., Lenders, V., & Martinovic, I. (2014). Realities and challenges of
nextgen air traffic management: the case of ADS-B. IEEE Communications Magazine,
52(5), 111-118.
