NBAA GA Desk Subscriber Sets Milestone

Bombardier Flexjet, a subscriber to the NBAA's General Aviation Desk at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center since August 2001, marked a new milestone for business aviation operators in becoming the first non-scheduled operator to successfully transmit flight intent data to the FAA's host ATC system.

Scheduled airlines have had the capability since 1996 to electronically communicate flight intent messages to FAA ATC, including daily flight schedules, changes, updates, cancellations and other pertinent company information that may affect their operations in the National Airspace System. Until now, non-scheduled operators have not had the ability to participate in this electronic data sharing.

In addition to being a GA Desk subscriber, Flexjet also is among the first business aviation representatives to be involved in the FAA/Industry Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Process.

NBAA says, that by sharing flight intent data, "Flexjet is helping the air travel system and all air travelers by giving the FAA more predictable information with which to make traffic flow management decisions that include non-scheduled operator intentions. This data also can be used to improve strategic planning and to better analyze high-demand situations that may result in fewer delays to both Flexjet and other CDM NAS operators."

Flexjet is the first of what will be several more non-FAR Part 121 operators and flight plan service providers to connect to the FAA over the next several months. NBAA claism this growing data sharing "will significantly increase the FAA's ability to manage the NAS more efficiently, and it strongly demonstrates the business aviation community's commitment to participating as a full partner with airlines in traffic flow management."

NBAA established the GA Desk in August 2001 to represent the aviation interests of its Member Companies to the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center staff and various ATC facilities throughout the United States.

FMI: www.nbaa.org/gadesk