Published 11 May, 2011
Increasing levels of air traffic with limited operational air space and a grossly inefficient analog radar system designed for the 20th century has made the already demanding job of directing air traffic much more challenging for pilots, flight dispatchers and air traffic controllers.
Thus, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry professionals are diligently leading development of the NextGen guidance technology, a comprehensive overhaul of the National Airspace System that would replace radar-based guidance with digital satellite systems that use GPS.
John Plowman, President of TWU Local 542, was invited to join the NextGen Advisory Committee Working Subcommittee (NACSC) in March 2011 to utilize his extensive knowledge of flight operation to help the NACS develop recommendations to the FAA for implementation of NextGen technology. Plowman is serving his fourth term as Local 542 President and is a certified dispatcher who began his aviation career in the U.S. Air Force and has worked as an FAA air traffic controller.
The NACSC, comprised of representatives from labor unions, airports, airlines and electronics manufacturers like General Electric and Lockheed Martin, was formed to assist the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) in developing consensus-based recommendations to the FAA on issues related to NextGen. NAC is working to develop a common understanding of NextGen priorities and the NACSC plays an important role in providing a venue for the FAA as well as industry partners to report on progress on the development of NextGen capabilities.
By utilizing GPS technology, NextGen will increase fuel efficiency, reduce flying time, improve air traffic separation and enhance communications. This new satellite technology will minimize ground taxi times, creating substantial fuel savings for air carriers. The U.S. economy depends on aviation for commerce and tourism, and both will be positively impacted by NextGen’s projected rollout in mid 2018.
“The current air traffic control (ATC) system has too many constraints,” Plowman explained, “NextGen will create efficiencies in the system, saving time and fuel.”
NextGen is a work in progress and the business case for implementation is obvious to most airlines, but they are studying the costs of equipment and implementation for different fleet types, compared to fuel savings and operational efficiencies. The expenditure for NextGen equipment will be a hurdle for some air carriers, smaller airports and even for the FAA given the governmental budgeting process. Government incentives will be needed to help reduce the cost sting of upgrading and the FAA will clearly need increased government funding to complete full implementation in a 2025-2030 timeframe.
As airports and aircraft become equipped with the new NextGen navigation systems, the technology should sell itself. “As dispatchers, safety is our number one objective, improving efficiencies on the ground and in the air provides a better product for the passengers,” said Plowman.