FAA testing new backup system
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun integration testing of the Enhanced Backup Surveillance system with the National Airspace System as part of air traffic control modernization.
FAA will deploy the system at 20 air traffic control centers, management centers that together have responsibility for the nation's airspace, after testing at the FAA Technical Center.
'This milestone was achieved under target cost and five weeks early,' J.C. Johns, FAA's EBUS program manager, said yesterday. The Denver Center will be first to transition to the new backup system in March 2005.
The backup surveillance is designed to replaces the direct-access radar channel hardware and software that provides backup radar data processing services for FAA air traffic control centers.
The radar channel supports air traffic control operations if the primary system fails or goes down for maintenance. The new system improves the reliability of the surveillance data and averts total system loss if there are hardware or software problems.
About the Author
Mary Mosquera is a reporter for Federal Computer Week.