[JYO] FAA Deploys Free Flight Technology at Washington Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


APA 17-02
May 6, 2002
Contact: Fraser Jones
Phone: 202-267-3462

FAA Deploys Free Flight Technology at Washington Center
        
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Jane 
F. Garvey today announced the successful deployment of an advanced system at 
Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center that improves airspace efficiency 
and capacity by allowing pilots to select more direct routes to their 
destinations. 

Controllers and pilots began using the User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) 
last month at the Leesburg, VA, facility. This new digital system is one of 
numerous building blocks in the FAA's Free Flight technology, which is aimed 
at transforming the nation's air traffic operation with a quick influx of new 
technology.  In addition to Washington, URET is in use at Kansas City, 
Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Memphis, TN. 

URET is a computer program that aids controllers in granting pilot requests 
to change their flight path for more direct routes or for different 
altitudes.  The software allows controllers to look 20 minutes into the 
future of a flight path.  If a pilot wants a different route, the controller 
punches in the request.  Immediately, the controller is advised if the 
request is safe.  Previously, the controller relied on paper flight strips 
and mental calculations.  As a result of URET, pilots now receive more direct 
routes and the airlines are saving time and money.

"With more direct routes, Free Flight helps bring shorter flights to 
assengers," said Garvey.  "This technology helps pilots, controllers, and the 
person sitting in row 15, seat B."

Working with the aviation industry, Administrator Garvey established Free 
Flight Phase I in October 1998 to provide measurable benefits to airlines and 
the flying public.  By using URET, the airlines have increased direct 
routings by 20 percent, and are saving $1.5 million per month (combined) in 
Indianapolis and Memphis airspace.

"The controllers and technicians made the difference," said John Thornton, 
director of the FAA's free flight program.  "Because they were with us from 
step one, there were no surprises."  
                        
Other Free Flight Phase I tools include:  Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) 
which provides airline operations centers and the FAA with national airspace 
system status information, including information on weather, equipment 
availability, and delays.  More than thirty airlines and NavCanada, which 
operates Canada's civil air navigation system, are enrolled as users of the 
system.  CDM helps air traffic control to more easily respond to changing 
conditions, and leads to better tactical decision making in the airspace 
system.   

Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) forms part of the NASA-developed 
Center-TRACON Automation System (CTAS). TMA helps controllers manage traffic 
flow and planning for planes operating at high altitudes between airports, 
which can enhance airport capacity.  Results from Fort Worth, TX,  Air Route 
Center 
show a 5 percent increase in flights arriving into Dallas/Fort Worth 
International Airport.  TMA is also providing savings in fuel costs and 
decreasing delays at Denver, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami and 
Oakland air route traffic control centers.

CTAS helps controllers more efficiently manage aircraft on approach to an 
airport by providing the most efficient use of available runways.  

Surface Movement Advisor (SMA) provides aircraft arrival information to 
airline ramp towers to assist airlines in better managing ground assets 
(gates, baggage operations, refueling, food service, etc.).  Using SMA, 
Northwest Airlines estimates that it was able to avoid three to five costly 
diversions weekly, 
especially during periods of inclement weather.

Building on the success of Free Flight Phase I, the FAA plans to deploy URET 
to the remaining Air Route Traffic Control Centers in Phase II.  URET was 
conceived and built by MITRE Corp., McLean, VA, and is being fully developed 
and deployed by Lockheed Martin, Rockville, MD, for use at high altitude 
centers 
nationwide.  

###

An electronic version of this news release is available via the World Wide 
Web at <A 
HREF="http://www.faa.gov/apa/pr/index.cfm";>http://www.faa.gov/apa/pr/index.cfm</A>

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