Uncertainty about U.S. airlines’ willingness to voluntarily install new avionics eight years before the upgrade becomes mandatory surfaced repeatedly in a public discussion in mid-2011, dividing stakeholders who, nevertheless, share high aspirations for the U.S. Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). During this government-industry meeting, several presenters credited the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with success in building a substantial portion of the ground infrastructure for automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B). This satellite-based aircraft tracking system already has been authorized for air traffic control (ATC) to separate suitably equipped aircraft within current areas of ADS-B coverage, pending nationwide coverage in 2013.
The theme of the meeting — the RTCA 2011 Annual Symposium, held June 15–16 in Washington — was “Accelerating NextGen Through Public–Private Partnership.”
Encouraged by the FAA and some industry colleague…
