Next Generation Air Transportation System

Global Position System (GPS)

System Wide Information Management (SWIM)

Advanced data Communication

Next Network Enabled Weather

The NAS Voice Switch

Structural design of new aircrafts

In this paper, we look into the new technological development in the air transport system such as GPS in air traffic management, airport infrastructure and proactive safety management. In details the paper discusses the user of specific situation awareness including a new broadband information network, weather observation, prediction and impacts; security, presumably without limiting mobility or civil liberties harmonization of equipage and operations globally and environmental protection with sustained economic growth.

Introduction

The aviation industry is the foundation of the U.S. economy. According to Swenson (2006) the industry is critical to the economic growth of the nation and has a greater influence on our quality of life. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a number of analysts have noted that air traffic operations are on the verge of change and it's expected to increase from 150% to 250% in the next two decades. However, analysts who have seen this increasing growth in air transport market are worried, due to the current lack of elaborate planned capacity which would contain the influx in the industry in the next few years (Swenson,2 006).

Moreover, this industry has a clear connection with comparative economic relationship between the growths in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and air transport sector. This requires the country to invest heavily in the most critical infrastructure, if the U.S. wants to continue being the world largest economy. In reaction to this development, the Commission on the Future of Aerospace in the United States has put in place a number of proposals which could change the face of the U.S. air transport system in the next couple of years as a national priority. These proposals were derived shortly to meet the requirement in the air transport system as highlighted in the law passed by the Congress and signed into law by the president "the Vision 100" which is known as Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. This Act led to the emergence of the Interagency Join Planning and Development Office (JPDO), which generally is tasked with establishment the vision for 2025 Next Generation Air Transport System (NGATS) and to finalized or examined the requirement for achieving that vision (Swenson, 2006).

In this paper, we look into the new technological development in the air transport system such as GPS in air traffic management, airport infrastructure and proactive safety management. In details the paper discusses the user-specific situation awareness including a new broadband information network, weather observation, prediction and impacts; security, presumably without limiting mobility or civil liberties harmonization of equipage and operations globally and environmental protection with sustained economic growth.

Air transport management system

The shift in the management and control of air transport is widely predicted to commence in a few years from today. As stated by Mineta (2004) the country's air traffic control (ATC) system is still based on the 1940's era radar, which has proved to be inefficient and has got capacity to accommodate the growing demand. It's foreseen that, in the next few years there would be an influx of many passengers and aircraft is said that will continue to tax an already burden system. Most airports across the United States have experience increase in the number of passengers with approximately 720 million people in 2011 only. However, FAA has projected that by 2021, U.S. aviation industry will numerous changes with approximately a billion passengers are expected to use our airspace. This demands for modernization of most of our airports ATC system, without doing so the inefficient ATC system used currently will suffer gridlock in case of severe weather and we can't imagine what we happened to business travellers across the U.S. (Mineta, 2004).

The next generation ATC system is expected to use Global Positioning System (GPS) built on the most reliable satellite and based on navigation. This system will be a break through to the aviation sector, since the issue of flight delay will be a matter of past, the flight delays will reduce sharply. It will assist business travellers to get to their destination fast which will eliminate loss of opportunities. The efforts to bring in well managed system in the aviation industry is being supports to initiatives an acceleration of ATC modernization as a modern, safe air infrastructure is essential to the business travel industry. According to FAA it's most likely that by 2018, the Next Generation of air transport will cut down most flight delays by 35% and offers $23 billion in delay decrease benefits. The report released by the Deloitte in 201, which originated from their business case study, tried to estimates $29 billion in net benefits in the U.S. every year after full deployment of system when it starts to operate by the year 2026.

In ensuring the best system is kept and the demand of the market is met, global positioning satellite (GPS) technology is set to perform a critical function in the new system. However, the U.S. Department of Defense that is responsible for those systems will also be a key stakeholder to ensure the system operates in line with the laydown regulations, as are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), all will be planted in to assist and bring efficiency in its operations. In addition an organization called the NGATS Institute has been set up to include industry participants and perspectives.

This modernization effort will transform the national air traffic system by transitioning from a ground-based radar system to a satellite-based surveillance system; developing data communications capabilities between aircraft and the ground to reduce controller and pilot workload; improving aviation weather forecasting and monitoring systems; and creating shared and distributed information technology architectures.

Screening of travellers by TSA and Global Entry

Since the 9/11, the security system around our airports has changed and certain measure was taken to reduce chances of any security threat to the U.S. Sheridan (2006) noted even though private firms normally have limited success in provide better checkpoint screening for various passengers, the real issue is how to provide better focus to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and make it have a lot of resources which can allow it to keep on check high risk travelers and improve screening for low risk and most frequently business travelers. In addition, in ensuring that both our airspace and airlines are secure, certain measures are being undertaken in the realization of better security in the next generation airport transport in the U.S.

These measures include the expansion of risk-based programs, which includes adequate staffing of TSA and technology funding of current and new airports which plans to join. The TSA will endure the process of increasing the Pre-Check program to other experienced airports as quickly as possible and work towards nationwide establishment of TSA system. This has been seen as a better investment towards the protection of American's citizens and the rest of the world. The program will also include the extended expansion efforts at new Global Entry airports to ensure that all travellers are thoroughly checked at the point of entry at our airports.

So far the Congress has agreed to put a lot of investment in this project in achieving the Next Generation Air Transport System by 2025. Adequately funds have been provided in an effort to start and finish the project with the schedule time. The completion of this project will erase some of the fears in the aviation industry, since all passengers and other people including pilots and hi/her team must undergo serious check before going on board. However, some of the fears which have come up in last years because of suspicions on the kind of laxity within some members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry and NEXUS, will be a thing of the past. The system provides guidelines which shall ensure that every traveller must undergo the security check up by the gate, and all other luggage, parcels and other materials will be taken through special check by the TSA. According to report released in February this year, TSA has made a deal to launch the implementation of the program through major airports in U.S. And influence the same policy in the rest of the world, as the best way to secure the airspace towards achieving the Next Generation airport Transportation. To date, more than 350,000 passengers have been screened at TSA. The TSA seems serious with its commitments in the implementation, it has even planned for further expansion of Pre-check which has been extremely well-received by business travelers.

Funding of the Aviation Security

The entire population of the U.S. will enjoy the benefit of advanced secure, reliable system within our airports if the federal government decides to put investment in this sector. However, every year travelers and most airlines usually pay billions of dollars to the aviation industry and to the government in form of security fees, which adds the cost of air ticket. This creates a lot impact in the business travel buyers and their travelers (Sheridan & Corker, 2006). According to Next Generation Air Transport System (NGATS) blue print, which ask funding to the aviation security system and to the entire sector so it can be re-established to meet the surging demands.

The market is expected to develop quickly therefore most travel buyers believe that North America domestic fares will increase by 5% for an average round trip fare if the issue is left without handling it proper. This will definitely affect the rate of doing business across the nation and minimize tourist visit to other parts of the country.

Therefore, the funding proposal is part of wider scheme by FAA to ensure better services are rendered to the public and our aviation industry remain secure towards achieving the vision 100 by 2025. Although the proposed increase has been met by a "brick wall" by many members of Congress, and the revenue from fee increases would only make a tiny dent in reducing the federal deficit, security fee increases remain under consideration. GBTA opposes fee increases and believes the safest and most cost-effective approach to aviation security is intelligence-driven, risk-based passenger-screening programs. Rather than pushing for higher fees, the federal government should focus its resources on accelerating full implementation of these programs. Additional fee increases are unsustainable and unnecessary, and discourage business travel

Global Position System (GPS)

In summary, the Next Generation Air Transport will consist of Automatic dependent surveillance broadcast which has got Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites signals which will provide air traffic controllers and pilots with more vivid and perfect data to be used to assist the aircraft safely both on the sky and on the runways when landing and taking off. According to JPDO (2005) a number of aircraft controllers and responders get a GPS signals and use them in finding out the right position of aircrafts when it's on the sky. These data are then transmitted to other aircrafts and air traffic control which are stationed within and around the region happening for the first time simultaneously, this will improve security and safety of aircrafts at a great deal.

System Wide Information Management (SWIM)

JPDO (2005) stated that in the next generation of air transport system will involves the use of different kind of advanced technology. Its reports indicate that System Wide Information Management (SWIM) will be introduced to offer a single structure or infrastructure and system for management information to pass over data to many users and applications. By reducing the number and types of interfaces and systems, SWIM will reduce data redundancy and better facilitate multi-user information sharing. SWIM will also enable new modes of decision making as information is more easily accessed and processed (JPDO, 2005).

Advanced data Communication

Currently, the communication which exists between the aircrew and air traffic control, and air traffic controller is mainly being noticed through the voice communication. However, it is highlighted by FAA (2006) that the introduction of this data communication gadget will offer an additional ways of two way communication for air traffic control clearances, advisories, instructions, reports and flight screw. With the majority of aircraft data link equipped, the exchange of routine controller-pilot messages and clearances via data link will enable controllers to handle more traffic. This will improve air traffic controller productivity, enhancing capacity and safety (FAA, 2006).

Next Network Enabled Weather

It's clearer that that the next generation air transports system will be technology based, however, SNEW will be implemented to complete the current gap. Mostly 70% of NAS delays are normally takes place because of weather every year. The vision of NNEW is supposed to reduce any weather related delays at least by half within the next few years. Sheridan (1995) stated that almost ten thousands of weather observations and most sensor reports which originates from the grounds, airborne and space-based will go directly into a single national weather information system and obtains its update in real time from the national weather center. The NNEW will also offer one weather picture in the entire national airspace system, which will enable a proper and efficient air transportation decision making (Sheridan, 1995).