NextGen

http://avstop.com/news_march_2010/faa_nextgen_implementation_plan_released.htm

The Radio Technical Committee for Aeronautics (RTCA) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that develops recommendations regarding communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management system issues. Its recommendations are used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address and implement policies, programs, and regulatory decisions. In September 2009 several hundred members of the aviation community who form the RTCA NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force issued a report that included a number of recommendations that helped the FAA spur its plans to deliver benefits today as they build a foundation for the mid-term. The report represents the aviation community’s commitment to NextGen, as well as its endorsement of the FAA’s incremental approach to NextGen implementation. NextGen is the name given to a new National Airspace System due for implementation across the United States in stages between 2012 and 2025.

This issue qualifies as an environmental justice because airports are being asked to provide additional capacity in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Stakeholders realize there are benefits to integrated airport planning and terminal airspace redesign projects that deliver new airport infrastructure. The groups affected by this are passengers and residents of neighborhoods in close proximity to airports. Passengers will enjoy fewer delays and safer, more predictable trips. People living in neighborhoods near airports will experience less aircraft noise and emissions. And communities will make better use of their airports, strengthening the local economy.

In addition, although the FAA is focused on safety as their top priority they are also concentrating on working with the international community to ensure that their technology systems work seamlessly with one another and working to standardize global operational procedures that better protect our environment.

One point that is relevant from this week’s reading that was captured in this article is the FAA plans to use an EMS approach to integrate environmental and energy objectives into the planning, decision making and operation of NextGen. The FAA is also targeting partnerships to advance noise and emissions reductions, while improving energy efficiency. Another point that is relevant from this week’s readings that was captured in this article is the FAA is using a systematic approach adopting specifically designed measures will yield better results than a sporadic and haphazard approach. The NextGen plan lays out the agency’s vision over a six year time period and identifies specific goals that FAA has set for technology and program deployment. It also requires annual updates that document their work plan for meeting their goals.