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NASAO 85th Annual Convention September 12, 2016
LEESBURG REMOTE TOWER DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Matt [email protected]
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AGENDA
• Concept overview
• Leesburg project
PAGE 2
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MJ Massiano | © SaabREMOTE TOWER CONCEPT: PROVIDE ATC SERVICES FROM ANYWHERE
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Remotely
Controlled Airport
Remote Tower
Center
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REMOTE TOWER “CROWS NEST”
• 14 high-definition (HD) cameras
• Pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras‒ Electro-optical (30x)
‒ Infrared (IR)
• Two signal light guns
• Stereo microphones
• Camera housing with “AirBlade”‒ Rain, snow, hail, moisture and dust
‒ Temperature extremes
‒ Insects and birds
• Filters for direct sunlight
• Size: ~ 5’ diameter x 8’ height
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REMOTE TOWER CENTER
Voice Switch
ElectronicFlight Strips
Radar
FlightData
Weather Overlay
Airfield LightingControl
PTZ Camera Control
“Out the Window” View
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REAL-TIME, OUT-THE-WINDOW VIEW
• 14 high-definition LED displays with 360-degree view
‒ Plus one spare
• Error monitoring
‒ Moving keep-alive indicator
‒ Alerts… delayed, corrupt or frozen image
• Polarization filter control
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PRIMARY BENEFITS VS. CONVENTIONAL ATCT
• Lower capital and O&M costs
• Shortened schedule for site design and deployment
• Smaller footprint for more flexible siting
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FEATURE: “AIRBLADE” AT WORK
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FEATURE: EXPOSURE CONTROL
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U.S. LAUNCH PROJECT AT JYO
• Goals for Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO)
‒ Reduce arrival and departure delays for IFR traffic
‒ Provide greater safety margins for VFR traffic
‒ Aid Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) operations
• Strategy
‒ Establish rTWR demonstration system at JYO
‒ Obtain FAA certification for basic VFR tower services
‒ Demonstrate potential NAS benefits
• Partnership
‒ Virginia SATSLab, Inc. (VSATS)
‒ Leesburg Executive Airport
‒ Saab Sensis
‒ Advisory partners… FAA, DOAV and NATCA
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CERTIFICATION GOALS
• Meet requirements to operate and manage Non-Federal Control Towers (NFCTs)
‒ Per FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-93B
• Allow certified, non-FAA controllers to perform duties required for basic VFR tower services operating within Class D airspace
‒ Per FAA Order JO 7110.65
‒ Revert to non-towered operations (e.g., Class E/G) when tower is closed
• Gain FAA approval of rTWR system as equipment item appended to minimum equipment list (MEL) for VFR towers
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CURRENT OPERATIONS AT JYO TEST SITE
• ~ 35 miles west of Washington, DC
• Designated general aviation reliever for Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), ~ 9 miles southeast
• Non-towered operations in Class E/G airspace
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Table 1. Operating Statistics at Leesburg Executive Airport
Aircraft based on the field: 254
Single engine airplanes: 209
Multi engine airplanes: 31
Jet airplanes: 6
Helicopters: 8
Aircraft operations: avg 316/day *
85% local general aviation
11% transient general aviation
2% air taxi
1% military
* for 12-month period ending 31 December 2014
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JYO AIRSPACE
• Within DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)
‒ Class G from airport surface to Class E base
‒ Class E from 700’ to Class B base
‒ Class B from 1500’ to 10,000’ MSL
‒ SFRA flight plan required in some cases
• Controlling FAA parent facility: Potomac Consolidated TRACON (PCT)
• Leesburg Maneuvering Area rules
‒ Squawk 1226
‒ Ingress/egress without contacting PCT
‒ Pattern traffic require DC SFRA flight plan and discrete transponder code
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RECENT ACTIVITIES AT JYO
• Aug ’15 - Apr ’16: initial passive data collection
• Demonstrations to FAA Executives
• Demonstrations to AAAE, ALPA, AOPA, DoD, NBAA, NASAO, NATCA and Leesburg flying community
• Initial Safety Risk Assessment
• Installed Saab rTWR v2.0 upgrade
• Installed RVA Mobile ATCT
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QUESTIONS ?