Fall 2014 | VOLUME 56, NO. 3
2014 Glen A. Gilbert MEMORIAL AWARD RECIPIENT
MONTE BELGER
Plus
• The ATCA 59th Annual Conference & Exposition • The MH370 Investigation: An Update
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Fall 2014 | Vol. 56, No. 3
Contents
Published for: Air Traffic Control Association 1101 King Street, Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-299-2430 Fax: 703-299-2437 info@atca.org www.atca.org
Special Section
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President, Jeff Lester Vice-President & Publisher, Sean Davis EDITORIAL Editorial Director, Jill Harris Managing Editor, Kristy Rydz Editorial Assistant, Andrew Harris DESIGN & LAYOUT Art Director, Myles O’Reilly Senior Graphic Designer, John Lyttle Graphic Designer, Crystal Carrette Graphic Designer, Jessica Landry Graphic Designer, Gayl Punzalan ADVERTISING Sales Director, Danny Macaluso | 866-954-8168 Quinn Bogusky | 888-953-2198 Louise Peterson | 866-953-2183 Walter Lytwyn | 866-953-2196 Blair Sidorow | 866-954-8169 DISTRIBUTION Jennifer Holmes | 866-953-2189
© 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 the 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 the ATCA. Printed in Canada. Please recycle where facilities exist.
Cover image of Mr. Belger by Steve O’Toole Photography
The 59th Annual ATCA Conference and Exposition Recognizing the 2014 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Winner Congratulations to Monte Belger!
Articles
Published by:
140 Broadway, 46th Floor New York, NY 10005 Toll-free phone: 866-953-2189 Toll-free fax: 877-565-8557 www.lesterpublications.com
ATCA members and subscribers have access to the online edition of The Journal of Air Traffic Control. Visit lesterfiles.com/ pubs/ATCA. Password: ATCAPubs (case sensitive).
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The MH370 Investigation: An Update
By Steve Winter
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26
Three Months Later
Aireon: The Progression to Space Based ADS-B Preparations Continue as the System Poses to go Online in 2018 By NAV CANADA
Challenges in Accommodating Commercial Space Operations in the NAS With the Impending Increase in Commercial Space Flight Comes New Tasks for Managing Air Traffic By Daniel Murray
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Perspective from the Hill
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What Did We Learn?
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Key NextGen Achievements in the First 10 Years
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Q&A with Chairman Frank LoBiondo Looking Back on the 2014 ATCA Technical Symposium A Strong Legacy of Achievement with More to Come By Victoria Wei
The Effects of UAS Design on Air Traffic Management
Predicting the Effect of Integration of UAVs into a Stream of Traditional Aircraft By Albert V. Secen, Jr.
The Looming Tower
How Global Demographic Changes and Evolutionary Limits in Human Cognition Threaten the Economic Viability of the Air Transportation Industry By Dr. Ashley Nunes
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Status of Transferring NASA’s Terminal Sequencing and Space Technologies to the FAA Further Improving ATC Operations
By Kevin E. Witzberger, Harry Swenson, John E. Robinson III, Ronald Johnson, and Steve Winter
Departments 5 7 10
From the President From the Editor’s Desk Feedback from the ATC Community
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Member Benefits & Application
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Directory of Member Organizations
The Journal of Air Traffic Control
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Peter F. Dumont, President & CEO, ATCA
Pushing for Further Improvements WELCOME TO THE THIRD QUARTER issue of The Journal of Air Traffic Control. I would like to start by congratulating Monte Belger on being selected by ATCA’s Board of Directors as this year’s Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award winner. Monte’s career to date exemplifies the essence of the award. He has contributed much to our industry during his career and it seems he is not done yet. At this writing, Monte was recently appointed as president of Metron Aviation. I hope you can join us in celebrating his accomplishments at the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Banquet the evening of October 1. This issue will coincide with the ATCA 59th Annual Conference and Exposition, which I am confident you will enjoy. We have crafted an agenda featuring world-class experts to discuss today’s relevant aviation topics. In attendance will be representatives from all segments of our industry – both domestic and international, and more top government experts than ever before. The topics chosen for discussion this year reflect the upcoming FAA reauthorization debate as well as the fact that aviation is a global industry. Regarding FAA, our members have some clear objectives. To put it simply, we want FAA to perform safely and efficiently, and to continue improving their performance. Part of that discussion must certainly include metrics. Without the correct metrics, we will not be able to measure the success of efforts aimed at the goal of safety and efficiency. As we approach the reauthorization, members have been voicing consistent themes – they want FAA to continue aggressive NextGen implementation; they want stable funding for FAA programs; and they want
the certification system improved. We will discuss these concerns in plenary sessions including “NextGen: How do we Measure Success?” and “Mixed Equipage: Best Equipped, Best Served Vs. First Come, First Served.” Over the years, we have seen many efforts to improve FAA and the air traffic system. In 1995, we thought our FAA scientists and specialists were not paid well enough, which led to problems with attracting and keeping top talent – so we implemented personnel reform. Now we can pay FAA scientists and other employees above the federal pay grade. That same year, we also thought the federal procurement process was too slow and didn’t accommodate the high tech world which FAA operated. So we allowed FAA to create a unique procurement process. In 2000, we decided FAA should operate more like a business, so we turned the operating arm of FAA into the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) and in 2003, hired a chief operating officer (COO) from the industry. Over the years, the ATC community has established stakeholder organizations to provide advice and guidance to the FAA. All of these efforts were attempts to improve our air traffic system – yet we are still looking for FAA change. Some of our members are interested in exploring corporatizing FAA as a way to improve the delivery of air traffic services. At the ATCA Annual, we will be dissecting the problem we are trying to solve as well as challenges FAA faces and if transitioning into a new model structure would alleviate those challenges. Internationally, we will continue to discuss the challenge of harmonization – where we see success and where we need improvement.
But our discussions will not stop after the Annual. Reauthorization will continue to be a relevant conversation in the industry. In an attempt to continue facilitating that discussion, ATCA will soon be launching an online Reauthorization Information Center for our members to share background information on key reauthorization issues such as corporatization and stable funding. Our first effort after the Annual will be to provide a resource of worldwide Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) structures. We have started asking our member ANSPs to provide background information on how they are structured, managed, receive funding, incorporate stakeholder participation, and track metrics. This Information Center will be for ATCA members to share material regarding key reauthorization information and it will provide background resources to our members to enrich their outside discussions on key reauthorization topics. I believe ATCA’s Online Reauthorization Information Center will benefit the industry by helping to improve the air traffic profession and community by developing and disseminating knowledge of the control of air traffic and encouraging intelligent cooperation between appropriate parties. I look forward to seeing you and discussing these issues face-to-face at the ATCA 59th Annual in September.
Peter F. Dumont, President & CEO Air Traffic Control Association
The Journal of Air Traffic Control
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Fall 2014 | Vol. 56, No.3 Air Traffic Control Association 1101 King Street, Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-299-2430 Fax: 703-299-2437 info@atca.org www.atca.org 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. Editor-in-Chief: Steve Carver Publisher: Lester Publications, LLC
Officers and Board of Directors Chairman: James H. Washington, B3 Solutions Chairman-Elect: Neil Planzer, The Boeing Company President & CEO: Peter F. Dumont, Air Traffic Control Association Treasurer, Director-At-Large: Rachel Jackson, ASRC Research & Technology Solutions Secretary, East Area Director: Jeff Griffith, Washington Consulting Group North Central Area Director: Bill Ellis, Midwest ATC Northeast Area Director: Mike Headley, Apptis South Central Area Director: William Cotton Southeast Area Director: Robert Coulson, Harris Corporation Western Area Director: Mike Lewis, Jeppesen Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico Area Director: John Crichton, NAV CANADA Europe, Africa, Middle East Area Director: Steve James Pacific, Asia, Australia Area Director: Bob Gardiner, ACMAT Consultants Directors-At-Large: Rick Day, CSC Charlie Keegan, Raytheon Sandra Samuel, Lockheed Martin
By Steve Carver Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Air Traffic Control
Reflecting on the Achievements of the Past DURING THE WEEK OF THIS YEAR’S ATCA’s Technical Symposium, the FAA Technical Center opened its doors for a day. The open house was well received by a large attendance. Dennis Filler, the Director of the FAA Technical Center, made himself available to all who entered. Related to many of the issues discussed that week, this edition of The Journal of Air Traffic Control reserved a few pages for a question and answer section with Congressman Frank LoBiondo. Congressman LoBiondo serves as a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is tasked with being Chairman of the Aviation Sub-Committee. We appreciate his time with answering our questions concerning the Technical Center and current issues in aviation. We continue to wait for an announcement on the fate of Malaysian flight 370. Let’s keep hope that the black boxes of this flight will be found and the reasons for its loss will be discov-
ered. Steve Winter, author of “Initial Lessons Learned from the MH370 Disappearance” in the previous issue of The Journal (Summer 2014), has provided an update on recent discoveries surrounding MH370 on page 18. As time moves on, we lose those special FAA aviation experts who we have worked with over the years. A special breed of technicians led the way for NAS automation, navigation, communications, and installation from the 1950s through the 1970s. Long before “computer” was a common word and when “least service” was a future concept, these technicians help pave the way for future engineers and technicians by providing a strong safety philosophy. Each month, we lose some of these people to the age of life; we owe them gratitude for the steps they left for us to follow. Don’t ever forget that we are better because of those who came before us. Did you now that the IBM 9020 computer that was used in EnRoute operations had Continued on next page
Staff Marion Brophy, Director, Communications Ken Carlisle, Director, Meetings and Expositions Jonathan Fath, Manager, New Media 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, Senior Account Manager Sandra Strickland, Events and Exhibits Coordinator Tim Wagner, Membership Manager
The Journal of Air Traffic Control (ISSN 0021-8650) is published quarterly by the Air Traffic Control Association, Inc. Periodical postage paid at Alexandria, VA and additional entries. EDITORIAL, SUBSCRIPTION & ADVERTISING OFFICES at ATCA Headquarters: 1101 King Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Telephone: (703) 299-2430, Fax: (703) 299-2437, Email: info@atca.org, Website: www.atca.org. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Journal of Air Traffic Control, 1101 King Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. © Air Traffic Control Association, Inc., 2014 Membership in the Air Traffic Control Association including subscriptions to the Journal and ATCA Bulletin: Professional, $130 a year; Professional Military Senior Enlisted (E6–E9) Officer, $130 a year; Professional Military Junior Enlisted (E1–E5), $26 a year; Retired fee $60 a year applies to those who are ATCA Members at the time of retirement; Corporate Member, $500–5,000 a year, depending on category. Journal subscription rates to non-members: U.S., its territories, and possessions—$78 a year; other countries, including Canada and Mexico—$88 a year (via air mail). Back issue single copy $10, other countries, including Canada and Mexico, $15 (via air mail). Contributors express their personal points of view and opinions that are not necessarily those of their employers or the Air Traffic Control Association. Therefore The Journal of Air Traffic Control does not assume responsibility for statements made and opinions expressed. It does accept responsibility for giving contributors an opportunity to express such views and opinions. Articles may be edited as necessary without changing their meaning.
The Journal of Air Traffic Control
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Photo by: hxdyl / shutterstock.com
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
its introduction course in Oklahoma City and was 53 straight weeks? The technicians who accomplished that feat weren’t given time during the 53 weeks to go home to their families. Aren’t we glad times have changed! This year’s ATCA Annual combines the conference and exposition with ATCA’s Civil/Military Aviation Conference (CMAC). There will be more than 3,000 people attending from
more than 40 countries. I hope you attend. It will be well worth the time. When you see me at the conference, please say hello. Please don’t forget that the ATCA Publications Committee continues to work to make the reading of The Journal time well spent. If you have an idea for a paper, please contact myself (scarver@avmgt.com), Ed Stevens (edwardhstevens@gmail.com),orMarion
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The Journal of Air Traffic Control, Summer 2014 edition
Feedback from the ATC Community
The following letter was provided in response to the Summer 2014 issue of The Journal of Air Traffic Control, from ATCA member and former Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award winner, Frank Frisbie. ATCA members and Journal subscribers are encouraged to provide thoughtful feedback (such as the following) for considered publication in The Journal. Interested in joining the conversation? Email scarver@avmgt.com with the subject line “Letters to the Editor.”
That Droning Noise Submitted by Frank Frisbie, Double F Consulting THE BACKGROUND NOISE ON THE SUBJECT OF “DRONES” (also known as UAS) is drowning out much of the rational discussion about the practical exploitation of this technology. As a long-time (“old”) observer of the aviation scene, I have long been frustrated by the interval between the availability of potentially useful technology and our adoption of the technology in a meaningful way. In my view, the principal reason for this is the very broad, heterogeneous ownership of the 300,000 aircraft that ply our skies and that, together, are the constituency the FAA tries to accommodate safely. We seem to become spectators as we wait for a preponderance of those owners to “buy in” to the new technology (or not) and – led by their action – to formally incorporate that technology into the National Airspace System. My contribution to try to reduce the UAS cacophony follows: 10
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Concentrate on a segment of the user community that is homogenous and motivated to move forward. I think this is the high end of the UAS aircraft owner/operators (not the low/small aircraft end). Quickly establish sensible rules for these aircraft (avionics, airworthiness, airspace, op specs). In this context, Global Hawk, Predator and the like (e.g. owned/operated by insured responsible parties, remotely piloted, ADS-B equipped) are brought into the controlled airspace and dealt with as routine users. The above might seem to trivialize the great debate, but I firmly believe that we need to extricate ourselves from morass created by the diversity of UAS aircraft and operations. Simplifying our focus by accommodating those who will embrace the rules will benefit all UAS classes by building the basis for wider integration over time.Continued on page 15
Letter from the editor
The Names & Faces of Air Traffic Gather at The Names & Faces of Air Traffic Gather at
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ATCA Members are part of the global air traffic dialogue. Your access to ATCA committees, publications, and meetings will increase your awareness of the current aviation landscape ATCA Members areATC part of the global airAirtraffic and current work towards improving safety, Trafficdialogue. Control Association access toand ATCA committees, publications, and meetings will increase your awareness efficiency, capacity. ATCA Members are part of the global air traffic dialogue.
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• partnerships. ATCA collaborates with • ConneCtions. Meet with other industry Connections. Meet with other industry professionals at networking events throughout the year. the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal professionals at networking events Expert Opinions. Members have exclusive access to ATCA Publications including: Connections. Meet at networking eventsICAO, throughout Administration, CANSO, the year. throughout thewith year.other industry professionalsAviation Valuable Content. Daily Headline News, the ATCA Bulletin, & The Journal of Air Traffic Control Expert Opinions. Members have exclusive access to ATCA Publications academic institutions, and manyincluding: other • expert opinions. Members havewith the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Partnerships. Valuable Content.ATCA Dailycollaborates Headline News, the ATCA Bulletin, & The Journal of Air Traffic Control global organizations. exclusive access to ATCA Publications. Administration, ICAO, CANSO, academic institutions, and many global organizations. Partnerships. ATCA collaborates with the U.S. Department of other Defense, Federal Aviation • reduCed rates. Members get Reduced Rates. Members get significant discounts to all ATCA events and conferences. • Valuable Content. Daily Headline Administration, ICAO, CANSO, academic institutions, and many other global organizations. significant discounts to all ATCA events News, the ATCAMembers Bulletin, &get The significant Journal Reduced Rates. discounts to all ATCA events and conferences. and conferences. of Air Traffic Control.
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ATCA 59th Annual Conference and Exposition: Annual Topics
A preview of main issues and questions on the table September 28 – October 1 at the largest ATC conference in the Americas
1. FAA restructuring – What’s the problem? Are corporatization and privatization the solutions? The panel will discuss the leading privatization/corporatization models utilized internationally as the starting point for developing a model that would be workable in the United States. After outlining the working structure of international models, the panel will discuss a road map for designing and implementing a privatized solution in the U.S. Key components to be addressed under modification and/or U.S. Model include financial, labor, governance, legislative and regulatory oversight. 2. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): National Airspace System (NAS) integration efforts and standards development UAS-specific regulations, guidelines, and policies are needed to support the growth of more than 7,500 small, unmanned aircraft entering the NAS in the next five years. UAS-specific regulations, operational guidelines, and policies are needed. The panel will discuss the current state of UAS access and integration to the NAS. Panelists will provide updates on progress in creating UAS specific policy, procedures and rules, implementing Ground-Based Sense and Avoid systems, and standing up of the UAS test sites. 3. Delivering global harmonization Global harmonization must account for the evolution of aviation systems around the world in a way that allows Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and airspace users 14
Fall 2014
to invest once in advanced capabilities. Standards are in place for global interoperability, but ANSPs struggle to meet user expectations for global harmonization. ICAO has defined Aviation System Block Upgrade capabilities, which are intended to facilitate strategic planning and investment decisions with a goal of global aviation system interoperability. Initiatives around the world, like CARATS, NextGen, and SESAR, are addressing their own local or regional issues with initiatives to work together, but will the Aviation System Block Upgrade (ASBU) goals be delivered for globally harmonized ground-based ATM and airborne systems? 4. Fostering the future of aviation The leaders who will be responsible for operating, maintaining, and overseeing NextGen in 2025 and beyond are at the front end or midpoints of their careers today. This panel provides them an opportunity to explain what initially attracted them to this critical and exciting industry, why they chose it as a career, what they see as its most important issues, obstacles to success in their respective roles, and how we can attract the next generation of aviation professionals to ensure industry vitality moving forward. 5. Future workforce training While the current workforce is adjusting and able to keep pace with the flow of change, a large number of them are due to retire in the next three to five years, creating a significant knowledge and experience gap. This panel will discuss challenges, issues and approaches, and present ideas
and perspectives for transitioning FAA’s current workforce into the FAA workforce of the future. The members will examine: • Selection and hiring challenges, issues and approaches in transforming its workforce • Training approached for specialized functions such as air traffic control, mission critical systems support, and aviation domains outside the U.S. 6. How can NextGen technology improve safety? The goal for NextGen is to create capabilities that make air transportation safer and more reliable. Today’s airspace operates in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world that relies on humans to perform these complex, technology-based tasks. Understanding this complexity, human psychology and interconnectivity will be the focus of the panel, offering insights from within the NAS and around the globe on how the technology is implemented, certified and managed. This panel will answer questions such as: • How can technologies incorporate human factors and what’s needed to address the areas where they cannot? • What kind of certification will be required to ensure these systems work together? • How have our global counterparts implemented these (or other) technologies and what have been the impacts to airspace safety? • What role can some of the newest software play; does it create an additional layer of certification requirements?
7. NextGen: How do we measure success? This panel will discuss the current metrics that the FAA uses and possible future metrics. Are these the correct metrics and are there others we should be measuring? With more NextGen technology coming online, how do we continue to assure that the metrics are aligned with these new technologies? 8. Mixed equipage: Best equipped, best served vs. first come, first served Technology vs. policy: what makes sense? In a mixed equipage operation, will the NAS be more or less efficient? What should be the expectation of the airlines if they equip their Fleet versus the airline that does not? What would the policy be? How will the ATC community manage the operational workload in a mixed environment operation? How do you train ATC? Is there an “operational metric” for equipped and unequipped aircraft that makes this mixed environment more or less feasible? Will there be a consideration of segregated airspace, similar to Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums/Minima (RVSM)? How do we ensure that we are in sync with Europe? 9. Looking ahead: What does the NAS look like in 2025? As technology continues to accelerate at an unparalleled rate, both systems and aircraft are changing at an almost daily basis. This panel will take a look at what the NAS could look like in 2025 by answering the following: • What impact will UAS have in 10 years? • What new technologies are on the horizon that could change the landscape of aviation? • How will commercial space fit into the NAS? • Will the controller’s job evolve in 10 years? 10. Moving toward digital government: NAS and nonNAS IT integration of NextGen This panel will address the fundamental changes that aviation has undergone, and will continue to undergo, as technologies advance. Included in this discussion are several key programs transforming the way aviation is managed: Data Comm, System Wide Information Management (SWIM), and some of the specific information management systems, such as those transferring flight, aeronautical and weather information (FIXM, WXXM, and AIXM).
FAA’s Huerta to Deliver Keynote ATCA has confirmed The Honorable Michael Huerta, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as keynote speaker for the ATCA Annual 59th Conference and Exposition Monday, September 28, 2014. Huerta oversees budget, employees and air traffic control modernization programs. “Administrator Huerta’s high-level overview of current events in the FAA is something ATCA attendees look forward to and which consistently draws a crowd,” said Peter F. Dumont, President and CEO of ATCA. “He has been a longtime supporter of the association and we look forward to his perspective during this important time in aviation.”
MONTE BELGER
Awarded 2014 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award from the Air Traffic Control Association METRON AVIATION PRESIDENT TO BE HONORED IN OCTOBER
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 since 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
Save the Date: More About the Gilbert Award & Banquet
IN JULY, THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ASSOCIATION (ATCA) announced its Board of Directors has chosen Monte Belger, president of Metron Aviation, as the 2014 recipient for the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award. 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. In each position, he has forged numerous domestic and international partnerships. A capstone to the ATCA 59th Annual Conference & Exposition, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Banquet will welcome professionals in aviation to honor Belger the evening of October 1, 2014 (see sidebar). “I am proud to honor Monte Belger for his exceptional 16
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Honoring the outstanding, long-term achievement of an individual in the field of aviation, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award is ATCA’s highest honor and one of the premier awards in aviation. Named after Glen A. Gilbert (1913 – 1982), the “father of air traffic control” and writer of the first air traffic control manual, it has been awarded in the past to former FAA administrators such as The Hon. Jane Garvey and The Hon. Najeeb Halaby; Captain Elrey B. Jeppesen; former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; and Pilot A. Scott Crossfield. The Gilbert trophy is displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. A full list of past recipients can be found at www.atca.org/GlenGilbert. This year, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Banquet honoring Monte Belger will be held the evening of Wednesday, October 1 (reception from 6 to 7 p.m. and banquet dinner from 7 to 9 p.m.). Full conference attendees at the ATCA 59th Annual Conference and Exposition receive a banquet ticket with their purchase. Tickets are also sold individually or by corporate sponsored table and can be purchased by contacting Claire Rusk, VP of Operations at ATCA: 703-299-2430 ext. 309 or Claire.Rusk@atca.org.