Lockheed Martin Celebrates Opening of NextGen Technology Test Bed

by Staff Writers Daytona Beach, FL (SPX) Nov 14, 2011

Lockheed Martin's Transportation Solutions is part of the corporation's Information Systems and Global Solutions-Civil business. IS and GS-Civil is responsible for a wide array of information technology systems and services in areas such as energy, health care, transportation, information and cyber security, citizen protection and space exploration.Lockheed Martin , the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and a consortium of industry partners have opened the Florida NextGen Test Bed, a laboratory where new and emerging Next Generation Air Transportation (NextGen) concepts and technologies can be demonstrated and validated.
The FAA's NextGen initiative is designed to improve travel through an integrated, adaptable air transportation system, enabling aircraft to adjust to factors such as weather, traffic congestion, flight patterns and security issues.
The NextGen Test Bed, located at Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA), was established by the Integrated Airport Initiative (IAI), comprised of aviation industry leaders who wanted to share their expertise to advance NextGen. Lockheed Martin and ERAU created the IAI in 2006.
Today, its membership has grown to 15 partners, including DBIA, Barco, Boeing, CSC, ENSCO, Frequentis, GE, Harris, Mosaic ATM, NATS, Sensis and Volpe.
"The NextGen Test Bed enables real world validation of concepts that will enhance safety, capacity, efficiency and security at airports nationwide," said Sandy Samuel, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Transportation Solutions.
"Lockheed Martin is proud to support the FAA in transforming our national airspace, and making travel easier than ever before."
As the prime contractor for the FAA's En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program, Lockheed Martin is building and deploying the platform for NextGen air traffic control initiatives that will enable the FAA to transition to future concepts and functions.
ERAM is a replacement for the FAA automation systems and infrastructure used by controllers to manage airspace above 10,000 feet. It will process more than double the number of flight plans and utilize nearly triple the number of surveillance sources used by the current system.
Lockheed Martin is a member of the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC), which is working with the FAA to develop a common understanding of priorities for NextGen capabilities and implementation constraints. Lockheed Martin will host the NAC's next public meeting at ERAU on Feb. 2.
"Lockheed Martin's leadership in helping develop the Test Bed has been very valuable," said Christina Frederick-Recascino, executive vice president for academics and research at ERAU. "From the beginning Lockheed and Embry-Riddle have worked together to make this facility a success."
Lockheed Martin's Transportation Solutions is part of the corporation's Information Systems and Global Solutions-Civil business. IS and GS-Civil is responsible for a wide array of information technology systems and services in areas such as energy, health care, transportation, information and cyber security, citizen protection and space exploration.

My Airport Operations

Just wanted to share this with everyone. 

By Betsy Hudson
    If you are one of over 400 million people who have a profile on Facebook, you will understand my excitement when I stumbled upon a new website "created by airport operators for airport operators" - My Airport Operations.
    After recently being introduced to Facebook by my teenage boys, I created a profile and suddenly I am overwhelmed with friends! Many are from my high school graduating class of '85! OMG! I enjoyed catching up with old friends and sharing real life stories on Facebook, so when I found this professional networking group focused on airports, I had to join.
    My Airport Operations is a place where you will discover a wealth of information at your fingertips through the online community. It is a convenient way to find assistance with compliance and maintenance issues, share ideas, training, concerns, or just boast about your airport. The purpose of the MAO online community is for members to assist each other with operations issues by exchanging experiences and knowledge. Essentially, it's Facebook designed for aviation professionals.
    So, whether if you are looking to network, share ideas, find solutions, seek training, etc., you can find it online at www.myairportoperations.com. My handle is BHudson - be sure to network with me!

FAR Part 77 Objections Affecting Navigable Airspace

FAR Part 77 is one of the most important aspects that must be considered when operating an airport. A duty of airport operations is to keep a close eye on what is happening around the field. It is very common to see unauthorized cranes just boom up. They must have an airspace study performed. If construction is planned within 20,000 ft of an airport or exceeds 200 ft in height, a study must be performed. The form a contractor is required to fill out for this study, FAA form 7460-1 can be downloaded here.

For those interested in how the primary and transitional surfaces around an airport are designated and defined I have provided two videos. For more information please go to www.myairportoperations.com

 

Air Race Fans, Despite Crash, Remain Steadfast

By JENNIFER MEDINA

RENO, Nev. — The fans come here each year looking for, even craving, the thrill they say they get only from seeing planes race at speeds of more than 400 miles per hour. At a small airport at the edge of the city, they tilt their heads skyward for hours, relishing each roar overhead. 
And as fans trickled in Monday to line up at the memorial that had cropped along the fence along the airport, a tribute to those who died after a plane crashed into the crowd Friday, they said they were determined to make sure that air races would go on again here next year.
Hospital officials said Monday that a 10th person had died from the crash in which a P-51 Mustang nosedived into the crowd at the National Championship Air Races and Air Show at Reno-Stead Airport. Four other patients were in critical condition at local hospitals.
But the crash did not deter the fans, who came to the memorial with a steely somberness. It was a freakish accident, they said, a one-in-a-million thing. Attending these races is dangerous, sure, they said, but so is driving. What should change? For the most part, they replied, absolutely nothing.
“The show must go on, even with something this tragic,” said Anna Marie Murphy, 44, who has come to the races since she was a child, when her family had a passion for building and flying small planes. She knew eight people who died in plane accidents, including her aunt and uncle, she said.
 “I know that people die in this,” she said. “I don’t want it to happen, but I know I have to accept it might. And anyone who comes here better know it, too.”
Each year some 200,000 people attend the event, in which planes race around an eight-mile course. With a combination of air acrobatics and high speeds, the race is far more adrenaline pumping than air shows and car races. Many of the most ardent fans are pilots themselves, who know well the dangers.
“You are open to a certain kind of experience if you come here,” said Ross Kallenberger, a private pilot in Bakersfield, Calif., who saw the crash. He motioned to the vintage planes taking off at that moment. “Can you feel them? How often do you come to an event that you can actually physically feel through your body? There’s nothing like it.”
For the last 17 years, Bob Johnson and Scott Koerner, retired pilots, have come to the event with their wives. The couples, who also witnessed the accident, wore their custom-made polo shirts, with stitching in the back declaring them air race “junkies.” This year, the Koerners paid for their daughter and her husband to fly from Nashville to see the show for the first time. Their son-in-law, Ben Cissell, photographed scenes of the crash that were shown on the “Today” show on Monday.
They thought about the risks now and then, especially when an accident in 2007 scattered debris through the field, in one of three accidents that killed pilots that year.
“You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to realize that there are risks to coming here,” Mr. Johnson said.
His wife, Jan Johnson, believes strongly that the races should continue, and she said she was certain she would return to watch them. “This is a completely one-of-a-kind event, and we love every minute of it,” she said.
The fans were already anticipating new regulations. Would officials try to move the race to a less populated area? Would they place the course farther away from the stands?
But they dismissed those options. Moving a course a mile or two away would hardly matter given the speed of the planes, they reasoned. And being farther away from the city would only increase the risk of spectators getting into car accidents, they said.

The only opening for change may have to come from pilots themselves, said Dennis Gleason, 70, a retired plane mechanic who spent years working for Boeing. The pilot of the plane that crashed, Jimmy Leeward, was 74 and an experienced stunt pilot. Still, Mr. Gleason said, pilots should consider creating a self-imposed age limit.
“You can lose some of your sharpness, some of your reflexes,” Mr. Gleason said. “Those maneuvers are sharp and precise. I’m sure he was an excellent pilot, but you can’t help but wonder if he was alert enough to notice the smallest mistake.”
Ike Shim, 63, traveled from Tokyo for the last seven years to watch the race. The way he sees it, changing the race would be akin to a philosophical defeat.
“Any kind of endeavor that is about human progress is going to have some risk,” Mr. Shim said. “That’s how we move forward and advance. If we stop taking risks, we stop living.”
At least one message left at the memorial seemed to echo Mr. Shim’s sentiment.
“Jimmy’s flying with the best of ’em now,” the card read. It ended with the motto of the Reno races. “Let’s honor him the best way we can: fly low, fly fast and turn left.”

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is cleared for passenger service

 Certification of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner for commercial service by the FAA is a welcome break in otherwise somber economic news.

 BRIGHT ray of sunshine pierced the economic gloom with the Federal Aviation Administration's certification of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner to begin commercial service.
After lengthy production delays, the first airliner to be built primarily out of carbon-fiber plastic composite will be delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways next month. Regular commercial service would begin Nov. 1.
As The Seattle Times' Dominic Gates has reported over the years, the 787 has been plagued by structural issues and the problems associated with assembling parts and pieces made in many locations. The plane also incorporates technical innovations the FAA cautiously tracked.
FAA clearance Friday to move ahead on a robust list of orders is great news. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon celebrated the moment and renewed the region's commitment to support increased production via the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center located at Paine Field and similar training sites across the state.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said, "The best airplanes in the world are built right here, and Boeing has just reached a major milestone for future success of this new generation of aircraft."
Boeing has 55 customers for more than 800 planes. Production of those aircraft is no small point of pride for the state. Washington's quality work force, and government and community support are all enlisted to help make the effort succeed.

AERODROMEPHOBIA

I LOVE this story now when the boss ask me what wrong with me today I'll tell him I have  "AERODROMEPHOBIA" THE FEAR OF AIRPORTS. In the story it say that travelers experiences stress due to having to follow instructions that are likely to change at the last minute, and unpredictable. That is my day changing at the last minute and always unpredictable. Between TSA and the FAA who has more last minute changes in their process and procedures? Now since we have an ailment could we get extra time off or extra help with the work? 

Have a great safe day, and try to not let your Aerodromephobia get out of hand.

 

 

Do you have airport phobia?

July 1 2011 at 09:03am

---

Millions of travelers find airports so stressful that they have given up flying, a report reveals.

While most refuse to give up their holidays, the study shows four in ten Britons who have flown find the airport experience stressful.

More than a third believe it is worse than work, and nearly a quarter think it as stressful as moving house.

Of the 2,000 holidaymakers questioned, nine percent - or almost four million in the wider traveling population - now avoid flying because of airport stress including flight delays, mislaid belongings and getting to the gate on time. Almost half of travelers believe a holiday doesn’t start until they have left the airport.

The research, conducted for the credit-card insurer CPP, found passengers thought Heathrow was Britain’s most stressful airport, followed by Gatwick and Manchester.

Psychologist David Moxon said: “Humans are wired to experience stress in situations where many feel out of control.

“Airports - where you have to follow instructions that are likely to change at the last minute, and procedures that are unpredictable - lead many to react with a stress response.” - Daily Mail 

Safety Management Sytems

Just finished and mailed out my AEP, now I have a break.... not really. The FAA has sent out a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for SMS for Certificated Airports. (FAA SMS for Airports website) 

If you think your AEP was excessively long winded you are not going to like the SMS. Please go to the link and give you comments. The will close out the comments 5 July 2011, so please hurry.

The good news is that like the AEP the FAA should give us plenty of time to complete the SMS. That and with any luck they will make it AIP eligible. That way I can have a consultant firm do it and I can get back to taking care of my airport.

Everyone have a great day and a better weekend.  

Nothing like waiting till the last minute

June 30 2011 is the DEADLINE for you AEP! We all have know this but just like I have done, I've waited till the last minute. I will hopefully turn in the AEP this Friday. I was wondering if the FAA is like my old English teacher, deduct points each day it's late. I could live with a "C". Just don't break out the red pen and mark it up and send it back with "Not your best work Mr. Barentine".

Oh well, it's a "living document" so updates and changes will happen.
Good luck to you all on your AEP

Have a good and safe day,
Glen

Having fun at an airport after a cancel flight

In the world where Homeland security is everywhere and TSA is in every corner of your airport.What happened here? Read the article about what security said. Personally I love the part at the bar, at $6.00 a "CUP" the bar is the real bad guys. 

STUCK from Joe Ayala on Vimeo.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/308125 Here's the link to the story enjoy.

Off to work, have a safe and a little fun day,
Glen