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.
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