The advanced air traffic technology which was inaugurated April 7 in South Florida – the first installment of regular infrastructure within the NextGen modernization program – is not only a boost to the region, but to the entire nation, Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO Marion Blakey said at the event.
“This is a significant milestone and a remarkable accomplishment for NexGen and everyone involved in its evolution,” Blakey said during a ceremony at Miami International Airport, “and, more important, it’s a sign of even greater things to come in the future for our nation’s air transportation system.”
Blakey joined representatives of local governments, the FAA, AIA member company ITT and others to mark the deployment of 11 Automatic Dependant Surveillance – Broadcast ground stations in the region. It is the first region in the nation to have the advanced technology installed and in use, outside of pockets of ADS-B in demonstration programs.
ADS-B technology allows pilots and controllers to see radar-like displays with highly accurate traffic data from satellites, with real-time updates that don’t degrade with distance or terrain. The technology also provides access to weather services, terrain maps and flight information services. The system largely replaces radar-based technology.
The South Florida deployment marks the first installment among 794 stations across the nation, with the Gulf of Mexico, Louisville, Juneau and Philadelphia regions all slated to be operational by 2010. ITT, leading a consortium of other companies, is undertaking the work.
