March16DataComm, theNextGentechnology thatenhances safety and reduces delays by dramatically improving the way air traffic controllers and pilots talk to each other, is up and running at five airports in the New York metropolitan area: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark,Teterboroand Westchester. These airports were among the first to receive the critical system upgrade.
The new technology supplements radio voice communication, enabling controllers and pilots to transmit important information such as clearances, revised flight plans and advisories with the touch of a button.
DataCommis helping to keep flights departing on time throughout the New York area, saidFAADeputy Assistant Administrator for NextGen Pamela Whitley. This significantly improvesflight operationsthroughout the nations airspace, since one-third of all flights in this country each day fly to, from or through New York airspace.
Members of the mediatodaytoured the air traffic control towerat JFKand ajetBlue aircraftfor a working demonstration of DataCommfrom the perspective of controllers and pilots.Officialsfrom the FAA,jetBlue, the National AirTraffic Controllers Associationand the Professional Aviation Safety Specialistswere on hand.
The improved efficiency provided by DataCommsavesan average of 13 minutes per flight in New York during times ofheavy trafficcongestion, typically caused by bad weather.More than 7,500 flightsreceive the benefits of DataCommeachmonth atthe New Yorkarea airports a number that continues to grow. Data Comm last year improved the flying experience for 10.6 million passengers on 70,000 flights departing from New York.
The technology is being used by eight other U.S. operators in New York American, Alaska, Delta, Fed Ex, Southwest, United, UPS and Virgin America and 22 international airlines. DataCommis installed in 31 different types of aircraft.
Voice communications can be time consuming and labor intensive. For example,when planes are awaiting takeoff,controllersmust use a two-way radio to issuenew routesto pilots to help them avoid bad weather.This process can take 30minutes or more,depending on how many aircraft are in line for departure. It also introduces thepotential for miscommunicationknown as readback/hearback error.
By contrast, flight crews on planes using DataCommreceive revised flight plansfrom the controllersvia digital messages.The crews review the new clearances and accept the updated instructions with the push of a button. Planes keep their spots in the takeoff line or may even be taken out of line and sent ahead enabling them to departon time.
DataCommis nowoperationalat 55 air traffic control towersnationwide,following a rollout that wasunder budget and more than two and ahalf years ahead of schedule.The budget savings will enable the FAA to deploy DataCommat seven airports in addition to the 55 listed below.
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore-Washington
Boston
Burbank
Charlotte
Chicago OHare
Chicago Midway
Cleveland
Dallas-Ft. Worth
Dallas Love
Denver
Detroit
Fort Lauderdale
Houston Bush
Houston Hobby
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Louisville
Memphis
Miami
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Milwaukee
Nashville
Newark
New Orleans
New York John F. Kennedy
New York LaGuardia
Oakland
Ontario
Orlando
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Pittsburgh
Portland
Raleigh-Durham
Sacramento
San Juan
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Ana
Seattle
Tampa
Teterboro
Washington Dulles
Washington Reagan
Westchester County
Windsor Locks (Bradley)
Source: FAAData Comm Comes to New York