FAA Updates NextGen Plan, Targets 2018
Feb 3, 2009
By Adrian Schofield
FAA has released an update of its NextGen modernization plan, focusing on how “mid-term” improvements can be delivered by 2018, and describing what must be done to achieve them.
The agency says that with “internal NextGen planning well defined,” it will now focus on getting commitments from industry, particularly on avionics equipage. FAA has signed contracts with several airlines in recent months, allocating money so they can upgrade avionics to participate in targeted NextGen trials.
To support the 2018 plan, RTCA is setting up a NextGen Implementation Task Force, which FAA says will recommend “how to get the most benefits from the NextGen mid-term operational capabilities.” This government/industry group will also address investment issues. Final recommendations are expected by Aug. 31, 2009. Several other groups and organizations have been formed to usher the NextGen plan to fruitiion.
Avionics is a major focus of FAA’s latest 2018 plan. “Ensuring that a significant portion of the aircraft fleet is appropriately equipped to take advantage of NextGen infrastructure improvements is perhaps the most critical issue in achieving success,” the plan says. To achieve this, FAA advocates a “best-equipped, best-served” policy, as well as incentives for operators. The agency believes the changes it proposes could cut delays by 35%-40%, versus the “no-change” scenario.
For aircraft equipage, the plan envisages greater use of existing technology such as RNAV/RNP, electronic flight bags and data communications. However, new capabilities will also be implemented. Many of these are based on satellite navigation, drawing on automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), with both ADS-B In and Out. This will allow improved approach procedures, and cockpit display of information.
The new plan also highlights the ATC infrastructure programs that will be necessary. Many of these are already in various stages of implementation or development, such as the massive en-route automation modernization (ERAM) effort.
Image: FAA
