FAA said yesterday it is delaying the introduction of its new oceanic ATC system at its Oakland center, but when the system becomes fully operational in October, it will immediately reduce aircraft separation on Pacific routes. Click on Read more for full story.
FAA said yesterday it is delaying the introduction of its new oceanic ATC system at its Oakland center, but when the system becomes fully operational in October, it will immediately reduce aircraft separation on Pacific routes.
The Oakland center was scheduled to switch over to the advanced technologies and oceanic procedures (ATOP) system in June (DAILY, May 26). FAA officials said the delay is a "prudent decision" because the agency wants to concentrate on the ATOP system that became operational in the New York center three weeks ago. The New York en-route center is entering its peak traffic season.
Although FAA will miss its internal deadline for Oakland, it will still meet its commitment to reduce Pacific separation standards by December. ATOP will allow both horizontal and vertical separation to be reduced to 50 nautical miles as soon as it starts controlling all traffic in October, and separation will shrink to 30nm in December.
The ATOP system is manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The third FAA oceanic center in Anchorage is scheduled to switch over to the new system by next March. Anchorage will receive an advanced system, and the New York and Oakland centers will be upgraded next summer.
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