Visit Comes Amid Three-State Glitch

FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey and Congressman John L. Mica (R-FL, Dist. 7) today visited Harris Corporation's headquarters in Melbourne (FL) Tuesday, to meet with company executives and tour the FAA's Primary Network Operations and Control Center (PNOCC), which is also located in Melbourne and operated jointly by Harris and the FAA. The PNOCC is the main operations center from which the FAA's nationwide communications network is monitored and managed. The PNOCC is part of the $1.9 billion FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) program awarded to Harris in July 2002.

The visit came as a mysterious computer glitch forced controllers to ground all flights in New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana for up to two hours.

"At this point in time, we're just trying to catch up. There were some flights that were experiencing as much as two-hour delays. But at this point, I think we'll be able to catch up by noon, or by sometime this afternoon," said Houston Airports spokesman Ernie DeSoto. "The problem that happens is that all of these flights are interrelated -- they connect to other cities and other flights."

There was no indication of what caused the delay -- the FAA would only say "major computer problems" were to blame.

Back In Melbourne...

"We are delighted that Ms. Blakey and Congressman Mica have taken the opportunity to tour this world-class network operations center, built with Harris technology and now operated by a co-located FAA/Harris team," said Howard L. Lance, Harris chairman and CEO. "This facility is integral to the FAA's objective for a modern, efficient, and highly reliable telecommunications system that further strengthens the US civil aviation system as the safest and most efficient in the world. The FAA is our largest US civil agency customer and FTI represents our single largest program at Harris."

"FTI is designed to save the FAA more than $600 million in telecommunications operating costs over the life of the program, and therefore represents a significant savings for a critical government agency," said Congressman Mica. "As a legislator from the great state of Florida and a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I am proud that a Florida-based company such as Harris is leading the effort to not only maximize transportation-related efficiencies but to also improve network security, both of which are the committee's top priorities."

The PNOCC exclusively serves the FAA as a centralized and integrated network operations center for all operational communications needs throughout the agency's 5,000 facilities nationwide. This dedicated, around-the-clock control center allows co-located Harris and FAA personnel to respond to and handle virtually all communications requirements so that the agency can focus on its top priority -- managing the nation's air traffic.

"The PNOCC is essential to managing and monitoring FAA operations nationwide," said Bob Henry, corporate senior VP, and president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "FAA and Harris personnel are working hand-in-hand in this central facility in Melbourne to ensure that maximum efficiencies, availability, and security are realized throughout the entire FTI network, which provides the communications backbone for the FAA's critical civil aviation mission, a key component of both US national security and economic vitality."

The PNOCC is a state-of-the-art control center supported by a redundant, robust architecture housed within a 6,500-square foot facility. Physical building security, redundant climate control systems, and uninterruptible power ensure system and facility availability with zero downtime. Security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection sensors, and encryption devices safeguard system integrity. The center provides centralized, timely network security and performance management information, as well as serving as the focal point for problem reporting and network status for all FAA users. A remote backup NOCC provides further redundancy.

Last October, the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) awarded Harris its prestigious 2003 Industrial Award. The award is given annually to a government contractor for significantly enhancing the safety, quality, and efficiency of the nation's air traffic control system. The award recognized Harris' long history of developing and integrating system solutions for the FAA and the global air traffic control network. The company's work on FTI was a major factor in receiving the award. Other FAA programs developed by Harris are the Weather And Radar Processor (WARP); the Operational And Supportability Implementation System (OASIS); the Voice Switching and Control System (VSCS); and the Alaskan NAS Interfacility Communications System (ANICS).

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