Rockwell Collins Thinks 'Outside The Boxes'

Special to ANN: Drew Steketee Reports From Washington (Part 2)

"Is NEXTGEN real? Yes!"

And, so, Administrator Randy Babbitt put the spurs to FAA's future ATC "system of systems" for 300 gathered in Washington to learn more -- and see if it's all really true.

Babbitt attributed industry uncertainty to "memories of historic steps and missteps of the past" but added, "This is now! FAA is not the poster-child for mismanagement." Panel after panel of FAA execs then illustrated how far they've come. Babbitt noted that, "People who say we can't (manage)… are talking old decades. Now, 90% of programs are ahead of schedule or under budget. We have reached a turning point."

"Are we committed?" Babbitt asked, rhetorically.

He cited this year's $867 million NEXTGEN budget and current long-term commitments for $9.6 billion. Now, he said, "everyone has to stand up…. NEXTGEN has to be a team sport."

Babbitt then infuriated at least one airline rep (but drew general applause) by repeating recent statements that "airline scheduling behavior has got to be realistic. If it continues (to bunch more and more arrivals or departures beyond capacity), it will negate the benefits of NEXTGEN."

Global Hawk UAV

Air Traffic Organization COO Hank Krakowski was well-received when filling-in the details. He posited NEXTGEN capabilities as a possible solution to fears about unmanned (UAV) operations in domestic airspace. He and others raised human factors and over-automation issues, such as controllers falling out-of-the-loop when they become "air traffic monitors." He called for new initiatives in controller training and controller "buy-in."

Keynote speaker Clay Jones, CEO of avionics maker Rockwell Collins, said his real worry was funding -- perhaps some $40 billion over 20 years.

"In this new era, that $40 billion will be hard to come by. Is there another way?" Jones then delighted the crowd with some alternative thinking.

Clay Jones, CEO, Rockwell Collins

Among suggestions: Build a public/private partnership as state and local governments do now to build new freeway capacity or other infrastructure. Utilize Third Party skills in software development, computerization and raising private capital. Consider low-interest loans, equipment leases and long-term guarantees to ease equipage fears -- even rebates for useless avionics if the associated ATC system fails.

To realize "the dream of NEXTGEN on time," Jones said, "we must consider options."

Audience members praised the voluminous exposition of information and perspective from this broad array of players. Perhaps most impressed was the last speaker, Mel Davis of the controllers' union. An L.A.-area controller and new NATCA staffer, Davis emphasized that controllers must be brought up to speed on NEXTGEN.

"The workforce… is ignorant" (on this), he said. "We lack the relevant information."

Davis looked forward to getting controllers "back in the loop" now that NATCA and FAA have begun to bury the hatchet. Can controllers adjust to NEXTGEN? "It's going to take us some time, but we can do it!" He added that in his mere 35 days thus far at NATCA headquarters, "I have not yet found a component of NEXTGEN that puts anybody out of a job."

Many speakers continued to worry about "mixed equipage" where only 50%-60% of aircraft are NEXTGEN equipped. Some procedural palliatives were raised but questions linger. Meanwhile, airlines such as American, Southwest and Alaska trotted out success stories of their early transition efforts.

Speaker after speaker noted the vastly increased attention and interest in NEXTGEN this year. Most credited the results of RTCA Task Force 5 for an emerging consensus that perhaps NEXTGEN is now, at long last, "for real."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.dot.gov