ATCA Bulletin - #9 - 2014

Air Traffic Control Association

No. 9, 2014

www.atca.org

ATCA’s 59th Annual and Civil/Military Aviation Conference National Harbor, Maryland

In This Issue: »» Monte Belger Awarded 2014 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award »» The Results Are In! Winners of the 2014 ATCA Board of Directors Election »» Day in the Life of an Air Traffic Controller: Samantha Navarro, Air Traffic Control Tower, SEA-TAC »» Industry News from SAAB and Member Spotlight on AT&T »» And More!

President’s Message

No. 9, 2014 Published for

By Peter F. Dumont, President & CEO, Air Traffic Control Association

Attaining Global Reach

Donald Sawvel/Shutterstock.com

W

e are just a few days away from the ATCA 59th Annual Conference and Exposition and this year is shaping up to be another great event.

I am happy to say that at this year’s Annual we have more FAA panelists than ever before. We have also scheduled tours for leading FAA executives through the Exhibit Hall and distributed that schedule to exhibiting companies so they can better manage their time on the floor.

Speaking of the Exhibit Hall, once again, there will be two presentation theaters dedicated to the demonstrations of General Dynamics and FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) program. The rest of the floor is packed with 102 booths. Come visit! As always, the Exhibit Hall is free to everyone.

Over the past few years, ATCA has truly become a global organization – producing both the ATCA Annual and World ATM Congress – two must-attend events in our industry.

Speaking of attaining a global reach, we just recently completed the 2014 Board of Directors Election for our ChairElect and Regional Directors roles. Thank you for taking the time to vote and help shape the future direction of the organization. You can read the results on page 7 in this issue of the Bulletin.

New this year, I hope you can make time to join us for our complimentary Membership Breakfast and New Member Welcome the morning of Tuesday, September 30. There, you will see your current ATCA Chair and Chair– Elect present the state of the association and a glimpse at the path forward. We encourage all to attend. You don’t have to be registered for the event; just come join your fellow members for some free breakfast.

While at the Annual, please take a moment to stop me and say hello or give me any feedback as to how we can make ATCA more valuable and beneficial to you.

1101 King Street, Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-299-2430 Fax: 703-299-2437 info@atca.org www.atca.org President & CEO: Peter F. Dumont

Director, Communications: Marion Brophy Writer/Editor: Kristen Knott

Formed in 1956 as a non-profit, professional membership association, ATCA represents the interests of all professionals in the air traffic control industry. Dedicated to the advancement of professionalism and technology of air traffic control, ATCA has grown to represent several thousand individuals and organizations managing and providing ATC services and equipment around the world.

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ATCA Golf Tournament 1757 Golf Club Dulles Va. Nov. 13, 2014

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ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

March 10 – 12, 2015

World ATM Congress 2015 Madrid, Spain www.worldatmcongress.org

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© 2014 Air Traffic Control Association, Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of ATCA. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the authors of the editorial articles contained in this publication are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of ATCA. Printed in Canada.

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Monte Belger Awarded 2014 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award from Air Traffic Control Association

Honoring the 40-plus year career of an aviation industry leader

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onte Belger was honored as the 2014 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award recipient at ATCA’s 59th Annual Conference and Exposition. Throughout his 40-plus years in aviation, Belger has held standout positions as acting administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and most recently was appointed President of Metron Aviation. A capstone to the ATCA 59th Annual Conference & Exposition, the Glen A. Gilbert

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ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

Memorial Award Banquet welcomed professionals in aviation to honor Belger the evening of October 1, 2014.

“I am proud to honor Monte Belger for his exceptional achievements as a senior government official and aviation industry leader,” said James H. Washington, Chairman of ATCA. “Monte and I worked together at the FAA in the late 1980s and I have witnessed his unique ability to execute strategic actions in a complex environment and respond well under

pressure. He has orchestrated significant structural and policy changes that resulted in global aviation benefits. Monte is a very worthy recipient of ATCA’s most prestigious award.”

Achievements in the industry Currently President of Metron Aviation, where he has been since 2011, Belger ensures the company is well positioned to successfully contribute to the future of aviation. Prior to Metron, he spent eight years at Lockheed Martin in sev-

Professional Accolades for a Lifetime in Aviation “I congratulate Monte on this award and can think of few former FAA leaders who gained as much respect from the FAA and industry alike as he has. His steady, confident, and knowledgeable demeanor set an example for all of us. The aviation industry is fortunate to have Monte’s commitment and contribution.”

donfiore /Shutterstock.com

Allan McArtor Chairman and CEO of Airbus Group, Inc.

eral senior positions – his last being Vice President of Transportation System Solutions.

He is perhaps best known for the 30-plus years he spent in the FAA – his tenure culminating in the role of Acting Administrator. He was previously Acting Deputy Administrator from 1998 – 2002 and managed all aspects of FAA operations around the world. He played a pivotal role in the transition of aviation security responsibilities from the FAA to the then-newly formed Transportation

Security Administration and he cochaired the FAA’s successful efforts to adopt acquisition and personnel reform.

In addition, Belger is a past president of the Aero Club of Washington, a past Chairman of ATCA and has served on the Executive Committee for the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO).

“I have an enormous respect for Monte’s contribution to our sector. This is not only manifested by his competence and experience; due to his integrity, credibility, and perseverance, Monte is able to make the difference in the cooperation between various stakeholders and achieve goals that are of great importance for aviation. It is a well-deserved honor for Monte.”

Paul Riemens Chairman, CANSO, and CEO, LVNL “Monte Belger has served in every important leadership position within the FAA, he has a distinguished post-FAA career in industry and has been the voice of reason throughout his career.

During his entire career he has been a strong advocate for our industry and a leader in ATCA. Monte is the perfect selection for the Glen Gilbert award.”

Neil Planzer Vice President, Air Space and Air Traffic Management, The Boeing Company ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

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OCTOBER 23, 2014

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ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

The Results Are IN! Welcome the 2014 ATCA Board of Directors

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Northeast Region: Mike Ball

East Region: Susan Chodakewitz

Southeast Region: Jack McAuley

North Central Region: Bill Ellis

South Central Region: William Cotton

West Region: Chip Meserole

Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico Region: Rudy Kellar

Europe, Africa, Middle East Region: Jonathan Astill

he term of office for the Directors at Large will begin one week following the conclusion of the Board of Directors meeting scheduled for September 28, 2014.

The Board of Directors looks forward to serving alongside the newly elected representatives.

ATCA wishes to thank all participants in the recent election. Each individual’s credentials and experience was impres-

Pacific Area, Asia, Australia Region: Peter Fiegehen

sive and the Board of Directors was proud to have numerous, qualified candidates. The willingness of our members to step forward and participate actively in ATCA is one of the key strengths of this association.

And thank you to all who voted! Voter numbers continue to rise each year, indicating a passionate and involved membership. We appreciate your involvement and support.

ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

Sunny Forest/shutterstock.com

Chair-Elect: Charles Keegan

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Day in the Life of an Air Traffic Controller: Samantha Navarro, Air Traffic Control Tower, SEA-TAC Where would ATCA be without air traffic controllers? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend a day in their shoes? ATCA breaks it down for its readers as part of our Day in the Life series.

By Kristen Knott, ATCA Writer/Editor

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ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

Samantha Navarro (far right) with the ATCA crew.

While a typical day doesn’t really exist for an air traffic controller – for example, they work five different shifts in a span of a week – here’s a sample of one such shift:

4:00 a.m. – Wake up 5:00 a.m. – Babysitter arrives Sam’s husband is also a controller so finding a babysitter for their two children who can accommodate two constantly changing schedules is a challenge, to say the least.

5:45 a.m. – Arrive at work 6:00 a.m. – Shift starts Receive briefing, which includes procedural and safety items, notes from headquarters, etc.

6:15 a.m. – Receive position assignment Controllers rotate through four positions – flight data/clearance delivery, ground control, local (tower position that can be

split into two, East and West) and local assist – throughout each shift.

7:30 a.m. – Break These are crucial in such a high-stress environment. “We have the most safety-crucial job there is. You know who and/or what you’re moving and how crucial your mistakes can be,” said Sam. On top of her regular controller responsibilities, Sam is also the NATCA representative for the Sea-Tac tower. She utilizes her breaks to fulfill her duties; this involves everything from dealing with safety issues, meeting with management and negotiating shift and leave schedules. However, her duties don’t end with her shift; her phone is always on to represent her peers – the 28 other controllers in her facility. Despite this being her third year as representative, she admits she “doesn’t have it down just yet.” Like every working parent, between her work and personal life, “it takes a lot to separate the two.”

Kalenik Hanna/shutterstock.com

amantha “Sam” Navarro never dreamed of being an air traffic controller. Joining the Air Force and air traffic control (ATC) was one of three possible paths she could take. She gave it a shot and was sent to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS, for its Air Traffic Controller Operator School. She struggled initially at her first facility, but with the help of a great trainer and training manager, things turned around for her. “I owe my career to him,” says Sam. Now she can’t imagine doing anything else.

Seven years ago, Sam landed at her current home of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), now the nation’s 15th busiest airport. She started as a contractor with the RVA ramp tower, but liked “the job security of working for the FAA,” so she made the move.

She says the biggest difference between being an air traffic controller at a tower than at an Area Control Center (ACC) is “we get to look out the windows.” In addition, “we need to be able to make split second decisions because in the tower environment, depending on the weather, planes can get as close as they want.” While ACCs have a minimum separation between planes of five miles, towers can use the windows to their advantage. They only deal with the five mile radius surrounding the airport; the radius for ACCs is much larger, sometimes parts of a state. With Sea-Tac’s three runways being parallel to each other and not converging like other large airports, air traffic is kept pretty basic and standard.

8:00 a.m. – Rotate position Every controller works 45-90 minutes in each position before rotating.

10:00 a.m. – Refresher training FAA Order 7110.65 is considered the “ATC bible” and requires constant refresher training. Controllers are required to be familiar with the provisions of the manual at all times. This can be monthly training, changes to the manual, etc.

10:45 a.m. – Position rotation Despite the high stress levels of being a controller, Sam confesses that it can become fairly repetitive. That’s why one of her favorite times of year is Seattle’s Seafair (www.seafair. com) – a weekend-long, region-wide celebration of navigation and aviation with community and athletic events, parades and races. Temporary flying restrictions are imposed to protect the airspace for aircraft like the Navy’s Blue Angels that utilize it for their airshow. “I look forward to it because it breaks up the routine,” said Sam.

12:00 – Break for lunch 12:30 – Last position change before shift ends at 2 p.m.

A thunderstorm strikes, pace picks up and stress levels peak.

Sam quickly coordinates with Approach Control (radar that handles the aircraft after the tower) simultaneously on frequencies and on the phone. “It’s amazing how well the people on the 1 08/08/2014 2:21:01 PM front line NAV_CANADA-March-2014-ATCA.pdf can set aside their [personality] differences and deal well with high pressure situations,” she says.

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Midwest ATC was honored to be awarded the 2014 IHS Jane’s Runway Award for its Kandahar Runway Efficiency program at the CANSO ATM dinner in Madrid, Spain on 3 March.

After being selected in 2003 as the first company to provide air traffic control and airfield management services in a combat zone for the U.S. Department of Defense, Midwest ATC continues to deliver safe and reliable aviation services throughout Afghanistan. That this award was earned on one of the world’s busiest single runway airfields while at the same time supporting intense combat operations is testament to the professionalism and dedication of the Midwest team at Kandahar AB. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments as indicative of our commitment to safety and professional performance.

Whether you are looking for air traffic control, weather observing and reporting, training, ground handling, or airfield management, Midwest has over 35 years of global experience and expertise to assist in the successful accomplishment of your mission. With a track record of servicing over 100 facilities across nine countries, Midwest is a proven low-risk, best value partner with tested operational procedures to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic. Its team of supremely qualified aviation experts is dedicated to providing clients with an outstanding level of safety and commitment throughout the world. Using Midwest’s flexible and professional approach will enable you to achieve success.

Midwest Air Traffic Control Service, Inc. 7285 W 132nd Street, Suite 340, Overland Park, KS 66213 1514682_Midwest ATC.indd 1

Phone: + 1 913 782 7082 Web: www.atctower.com 13/03/2014 12:03

ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

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Maksim Kabakou/Shutterstock.com

Member Spotlight: AT&T Government Solutions

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TCA’s newest Gold Level Corporate Member is AT&T Government Solutions, located in Oakton, Va. AT&T selected the Gold Level in order to name 10 individual members under their corporate membership level. AT&T Government Solutions will also be able to take advantage of the exhibition and sponsorship discounts afforded to Gold Level Corporate Members.

AT&T provides a wide range of solutions that support the FAA and other federal agencies. They provide the FAA with FTI and ADS-B services and offer a full suite of Cloud Services (FedRAMP Community & StaaS, IaaS, PaaS), cyber security management, mobility, and professional services.

Learn more about AT&T Government Solutions at www.corp.att.com/gov/.

Media Release from SAAB

World’s Busiest Airport Upgrades to Saab’s Latest Collaborative Decision Making and Efficiency Tool Suite

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efense and security company Saab has received a contract renewal from the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation to expand its Aerobahn airport surface management platform in use at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

This will bring a number of new and advanced products and tools to the ATL airport operations community that will further enhance the collaboration and efficiency of the world’s busiest airport.

A number of new functions will be added to ATL’s Aerobahn Surface Manager (SMAN), including an extended range display that provides a National Airspace System (NAS)-wide view of all inbound and outbound ATL flights for greater proactive management of air traffic, and real-time flight cancellation notification and reporting, giving users up to two days advance and historical view of all cancelled

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ATCA Bulletin | No. 9, 2014

flights for improved management. This is the first deployment of the Aerobahn SMAN with the extended range display.

The Aerobahn Vehicle Tracking system at ATL will be enhanced by incorporating portable Wi-Fi hotspots to enable vehicle operators to access Aerobahn’s real-time view of airport activity, enable expanded vehicle data collection, support dispatching and communications, and ultimately improve ground efficiency. In addition to vehicles equipped with Saab’s custom vehicle tracking devices, Aerobahn is also capable of displaying vehicles equipped with ADS-B or Mode S transponders. ATL will also be adding the Aerobahn De-icing Manager, a set of specialized decision support tools that help reduce taxi times and increase airport throughput during de-icing events.

Since deploying Aerobahn and its own surface multilateration system,

ATL has created a collaborative environment where all stakeholders (airport, airlines and the FAA) have a common platform to improve overall airport operations. In 2012, ATL saved 36,400 hours in taxi time and 64,400 hours in schedule delay per year, saving airlines $97 million annually with delays at their lowest level since measurement began in 1990 (10.1 per thousand operations).

The Aerobahn Product Suite (Surface Manager, Departure Manager, Airport Status Dashboard and De-icing Manager) is improving the efficiency and collaboration of airport authorities, airlines and air navigation service providers. It is the industry’s most widelydeployed airport operations management system, currently in use at 26 airports worldwide, including seven of the 10 busiest airports in the U.S., by movements (Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston, Philadelphia and Phoenix International Airports).

TRAFFIC JAM AHEAD. PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

Transforming the air traffic management (ATM) system is essential for improving safety, efficiency and the environment around the globe.

Boeing is fully committed and uniquely qualified to help make ATM transformation a reality. It’s the right time and Boeing is the right partner.

The ATCA Bulletin (ISSN 0402-1977) is published monthly by the Air Traffic Control Association.

Periodical postage paid at Alexandria, VA. $5.00 of annual dues are allocated for the publication of the ATCA Bulletin.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ATCA BULLETIN, 1101 King Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Staff Marion Brophy, Director, Communications Ken Carlisle, Director, Meetings and Expositions Jonathan Fath, New Media Manager Kristen Knott, Writer and Editor Christine Oster, Chief Financial Officer Paul Planzer, Manager, ATC Programs Claire Rusk, Vice President of Operations Mindy Soranno, Office Manager Rugger Smith, International Accounts Sandra Strickland, Events and Exhibits Coordinator Tim Wagner, Membership Manager

1101 King Street Suite 300 Alexandria, VA  22314

Officers and Board of Directors Chairman, James H. Washington Chairman-Elect, Neil Planzer President & CEO, Peter F. Dumont Treasurer, Director at Large, Rachel Jackson Secretary, East Area Director, Jeff Griffith Pacific Area, Asia, Australia Director, Bob Gardiner South Central Area Director, William Cotton Northeast Area Director, Mike Headley Southeast Area Director, Robert Coulson North Central Area Director, Bill Ellis Western Area Director, Mike Lewis Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico Area Director, Sid Koslow Europe, Africa, Middle East Area Director, Steve James Director at Large, Rick Day Director at Large, Charlie Keegan Director at Large, Sandra Samuel