FAA Tasks Sensis to Develop Enhancements for ASDE-X System
Further Enhances Critical Safety Related Program
DEWITT, NY - February 11, 2004 - Sensis Corporation today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has exercised contract options to develop several system enhancements to the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) system. The enhancements include safety logic; interfaces to FAA automation systems, and ASDE-3 radar system; a remote display processor; and data distribution. The enhancements will aid the air traffic controllers in runway incursion prevention and will integrate data into the ASDE-X system.
“These enhancements build on the solid surveillance, sensor fusion and display foundation provided by the ASDE-X platform,” said Marc Viggiano, president of Sensis Corporation’s Air Traffic Systems Division. “Development of these system enhancements underscores the FAA’s commitment to providing our air traffic controllers with effective tools for ensuring safety and efficiency at our nation’s airports.”
ASDE-X
is an airport surface surveillance system that will provide seamless surveillance and aircraft identification to air traffic controllers. The system uses a combination of surface movement radar, transponder multilateration and Automatic Dependent Surveillance -Broadcast
(ADS-B) sensors to display aircraft position, labeled with flight call signs, on air traffic control tower displays. Under the
ASDE-X program, the FAA plans to deploy the system at 34 of the nation’s airports.
To support the improvement of safety within the NAS, the FAA has requested the following system enhancements:
Safety Logic - The ASDE-X system will provide air traffic controllers with a valuable tool for improving situational awareness. The addition of safety logic further expands the effectiveness of this system, providing controllers with an aid in runway incursion prevention by detecting potential collision situations on the airport surface.
Safety logic analyzes aircraft and vehicle movement to predict future conflicts. Visual and aural alarms alert controllers when a potential collision is identified. Additionally, safety logic will utilize information from multiple sensors - drawing on surface movement radar, multilateration and ADS-B.
Interface Options - To enable deployment to planned ASDE-X sites, Sensis is developing interfaces to FAA automation systems and the ASDE-3 radar. (Nine airports approved for ASDE-X currently operate an ASDE-3 radar system.)
Remote Display Processor - For airports scheduled to receive ASDE-X, where more than one air traffic control tower is in operation, Sensis has recently completed a proof of concept for a remote display processor, which will enable the simultaneous operation of the ASDE-X tower display system in remote towers.
Data Distribution - To share airport surface surveillance data with external users, such as airlines and airport authorities, Sensis is developing a data distribution enhancement. Sharing airport surveillance data is another way ASDE-X can increase airport situational awareness.
Collectively, these enhancements will enable the FAA to deploy the ASDE-X system regardless of the legacy systems and air traffic control tower configurations, and to further increase airport situational awareness.
In a separate press release issued today, Sensis announced that the FAA has exercised production orders for 11 Airport Surface Detection Equipment Systems, Model X (ASDE-X).
