Making Production More Efficient

The FAA National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) has chosen ESRI's Production Line Tool Set (PLTS) for ArcGIS 9.1-Aeronautical Solution as the basis to develop and implement an automated, database-centric aeronautical chart production system. ESRI, the world's leading geographic information system (GIS) software developer, will provide professional consulting, design services, and software customization during the project, which includes the evaluation, system design, and implementation of a central database for the Aeronautical Information Branch.

"This contract will help NACO become more efficient in its production of aeronautical charts and supporting production databases, which will free up more resources for aeronautical information management," said NACO Manager, Terry Laydon. "Because of automation, NACO ultimately will be able to produce a greater variety of digital products with more sophistication-vector versus raster, for example. The system also will increase our adaptability to changes in charting requirements in support of the evolving US National Airspace System."

Customization will add data editing and validation components used to maintain database integrity.  ESRI will also expand Aeronautical Solution charting tools to make it possible for the Enroute Navigation Branch to create entirely database-driven charts. Applications will help streamline GIS database production, maintenance, workflow management, and quality control and support high-volume cartographic production and workflow management. The delivered system will provide NACO with an enterprise solution for data management and product generation. 

"We are very excited about the opportunity to continue to expand our partnership with the FAA.  This system will dramatically improve the FAA's efficiency and quality as they move to a true GIS data centric approach," said Brian Cross, aeronautical program manager for ESRI Professional Services.

The integrated system will replace NACO's current multiple processes that incorporate data editing tools and manual and CAD procedures.  PLTS tools will provide NACO with simple, easy-to-use, menu-driven solutions and components that allow

• Integrated data management
• One-touch maintenance
• Automated updates of database changes to published products
• Analysis and reporting
• 3D visualization
• Web publishing

The FAA is the United States government agency responsible for civil aviation safety, providing regulations for civil aviation and operating the air traffic control system, among other responsibilities. NACO plans and directs the construction, reproduction, and distribution of all aeronautical charts, databases, and publications that support commercial, military, and general aviation for the United States and its territories and possessions. 

FMI: www.esri.com/international