Awarded $1.8 Billion Contract To Run ADS-B For FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday ITT Corporation of White Plains, NY, has been selected by the agency as the prime contractor for a vital part of its proposed Next Generation Air Transportation System -- Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).

"This signals a new era of air traffic control," said FAA Deputy Administrator Bobby Sturgell. "ADS-B -- and, in turn, NextGen -- will attack the delay problem head on by dramatically increasing air traffic efficiency."

Under terms of the $1.8 billion contract, ITT Corporation will be required to have the system ready for use by 2010, and enable it to cover the entire nation by 2013. Along with air traffic displays, ADS-B also gives pilots graphical weather information, terrain maps and flight information, including temporary flight restrictions and notices to airmen.

Based on GPS technology and transponder signals from participating aircraft, ADS-B is nearly 10 times more accurate than radar. The FAA says it will allow controllers and pilots to know the precise location of aircraft, resulting in more direct flight routes and airspace efficiency, as well as reduced delays and improved safety.

The contract will run from 2007 to 2025. ITT Corporation will build ADS-B ground stations, and own and operate the equipment. The FAA will pay subscription charges for ADS-B broadcasts transmitted to properly equipped aircraft and air traffic control facilities.

Several companies make up ITT Corporation's team for ADS-B. They include: AT&T, Thales; WSI, Corp; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); PriceWaterhouseCoopers; Aerospace Engineering; Sunhillo; Comsearch; Mission Critical Solution (MCS) of Tampa; Pragmatics; Washington Consulting Group; Aviation Communications and Surveillance Systems (ACSS); NCR Corporation; and L-3 Avionics Systems and Sandia Aerospace.

Other bidders for the contract included Lockheed Martin, which took over Flight Service operations for the FAA (for better or worse) last year; and a team comprised of Raytheon and XM Satellite Radio.

ITT is a leading US defense contractor, as well as the world's largest supplier of equipment to move and treat water and wastewater.

FMI: www.itt.com, www.faa.gov