Rivals Align To Promote Future US Air Transportation System

ANN has learned Lockheed Martin and Boeing have formed a strategic alliance to promote advancement of the future US air transportation system.

In a release, the pair cite aviation forecasts predicting a two- to three-fold increase in air traffic by 2025 and the criticality of the FAA's next-generation air transportation system to the continued growth of aviation and the US economy.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin officials said that, by working together, the companies can leverage their expertise in air traffic management and aircraft-centric solutions to implement bold changes and help the US government overcome the challenges that lie ahead in transforming the current air traffic control system.

"Boeing and Lockheed Martin have invested in air traffic management for decades and will bring together world-class capabilities to accelerate solutions for a growing air traffic capacity problem," said Kevin Brown, Boeing Phantom Works vice president and general manager of Advanced Air Traffic Management. "For efficient air traffic management, the industry has embraced the need for integrating airborne and ground systems seamlessly within a unified operational concept. We intend to work together with the FAA to make that happen."

"To help increase the capacity of our National Airspace System by three fold over the next two decades, industry needs to look from the ground to the sky for innovation," said Judy Marks, president of Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions. "With Lockheed Martin's 50-year history automating air traffic management and Boeing's legacy designing and building aircraft, together we'll be able to offer a broad perspective. We believe that you can't solve the whole problem unless you see the whole picture."

Spokesmen for the two companies say a collaboration would combine Lockheed's air traffic management experience in the domains of en route, oceanic, terminal, and airport surface operations with Boeing's strengths in aircraft systems, avionics, aviation operations, and airspace simulation and modeling.

Initially, the two companies will focus on developments in three major areas:

Networked information sharing -- Both companies will share their separate work on concepts and developments via a secure information network allowing access to authorized stakeholders and users in the National Airspace System. Information sharing efforts demonstrate network integration between the FAA, national security and defense agencies supporting a key priority of the FAA's next-generation system.

Advanced operational concepts -- The two companies will expand on current trials of advanced operational concepts that deliver significant capacity, efficiency, and environmental benefits to airlines and air navigation service providers. These trials will link Lockheed Martin automation systems with the flight management systems of aircraft to provide precise and predictable routing concepts that save fuel, reduce emissions, and allow air traffic control to be more strategic.

Global interoperability -- Boeing and Lockheed Martin will collaborate on the FAA's global interoperability initiatives to ensure seamless operations between the United States and foreign airspace. Because of aviation's global scale, systems and procedures that encompass international operations are critical to any successful air traffic system development.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.lockheedmartin.com, www.faa.gov