80s-Era Software Will Provide Additional Separation
Control
The Federal Aviation Administration will be monitoring the use
of a new -- well, sort of -- runway display software package now
being implemented at Memphis International Airport.
Officials say the FAA will have enough controllers trained on
the software by July 2 to resume flight operations that have been
suspended since April 16 due to issues raised on a routine traffic
pattern used by controllers when the wind is from the south that
poses a potential risk for collision, as well as being contrary to
FAA rules.
By the end of July, all controllers are expected to be
proficient in the software's use which will help them make better
aircraft separation decisions concerning intersecting runways,
according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The software, Converging Runway Display Aid, was developed in
the 1980s by MITRE Corp., a federally-funded, nonprofit
organization that operates research centers for the Department of
Defense, FAA and IRS. CRDA has been used at Lambert-St. Louis
International Airport since 1990, and is also in use at
Philadelphia International Airport.
FAA spokesperson Laura Brown confirmed the agency will be
watching MEM to "see how it goes." If this trial is successful,
things will return to normal, which is sure to be wonderful news to
FedEx.
As ANN reported, when
aircraft land on runway 18L or 18C from the north, they pass over
Runway 27; if an airplane is on 27 or its taxiways, it creates a
potential safety hazard.
FedEx wholeheartedly disagreed, however. A spokesman for the
Memphis-based cargo hauler said, "We've followed these arrival
procedures for 20 years and know its safe or we wouldn't be flying
them," according to WREG Memphis.
The FAA instituted a staggered flight plan that allowed more
room between landing aircraft. The agency admitted capacity could
be affected. Sources note efficiency in moving a high volume of
planes through an airport is a "major" financial concern.
Controllers contend the landing patterns were placing 'dollars
above lives'.
The move reportedly cost FedEx 20 landings an hour for an
efficiency reduction of about 23 percent.
Successful use of CRDA means FedEx and others will get full use
of three MEM runways again.
"It is a smart solution that is important both to the health of
the airport and the airlines that operate there, and we look
forward to its successful implementation," said FedEx spokesman
Maury Lane.
"Right now, we think it's probably going to be a good solution,"
said Larry Newman, Air Line Pilot Association spokesman. "But we
think it is going to be a technical challenge because Memphis has
two intersecting runways."
Not everyone thinks CRDA is good for MEM. A controller, speaking
on the condition of anonymity, told the Commercial Appeal the
software is not a complete fix -- as it will not produce wake
turbulence separation for smaller aircraft.
Then there is the potential a pilot could fly directly into the
path of an aircraft landing on north-south runway 18R if a landing
is aborted on east-west Runway 27, as the system does not cover 18R
on the west side of the airport, the controller said.
The landing procedure in question was only used when the wind
was out of the south, and pilots were limited to VFR
conditions.
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