WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started investing the first $1 billion of $5 billion into the country’s air traffic control system. The funding — made possible through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — will sustain, repair or replace hundreds of buildings and pieces of equipment that make flying in the United States the safest in the world. AviationPros reports. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
4 May 2022 - Here's how the FAA will invest the $1 billion available in the first year of funding:
· Reinforce Navigation, Weather & Tracking Equipment: The FAA uses a host of communications, surveillance, weather and navigation systems to guide aircraft safely. We will complete the backlog of supporting infrastructure sustainment projects to keep these systems reliable.
· Power Systems: Replace underground cables, transformers, switches at airports, engine generators and fuel storage tanks that are part of primary and back-up power systems for our air traffic systems.
· Enroute Flight Centers: Update and repair the country’s Air Route Traffic Control Centers that handle aircraft flying at high altitudes.
· Long-Range Radars: Renovate or replace the supporting infrastructure at long-range radar sites, which are critical to tracking flights between airports.
· Replace Towers: Pay for design, site evaluation and preparation for the first air traffic control towers that will be replaced over the coming years. Many of the towers selected will be located at regional and smaller airports.
· Improve Towers and Approach & Departure Facilities: More than 50 percent of our towers and TRACON facilities, which handle flights entering and exiting busy airspace, are over 40 years old. Funding will pay for new elevators, plumbing systems, and supporting infrastructure.
· Environmental and Safety: Remove and restore areas where we have outdated facilities or personnel safety infrastructure that is no longer used and incorporate environmental and personnel safety updates.
· Personnel & Travel: Recruit and hire installation technicians and engineers needed to improve and modernize these facilities.
· Facility Security: Upgrade various integrated security systems at all FAA staffed facilities. Upgrades include those for guardhouses, visitor parking, fencing, perimeter hardening, window blast protection and lighting.
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Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
