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2012 NextGen Ahead Conference Program

Last updated: January 30, 2012

DAY ONE – Monday, April 23, 2012
12:00 p.m. Registration Opens
1:00 p.m. Interactive Workshops A:
A-1. Re-thinking Funding & Financing
The ultimate question: Where is the money? In an already-constrained environment, all government agencies are being directed to cut their upcoming budgets by at least 10 percent below their current appropriation level. So what does that mean for NextGen initiatives and programs? This workshop will delve into:
  • Status on financial support from Congress
  • Barriers for investment
  • Learning from international incentives
  • What are the strategic decisions to make soon? Do we have the resources to go forward?
  • What are the benefits for early adopters (retro benefits)?
  • What are the risks and opportunities?
  • Gary Church, President, Aviation Management Associates
A-2. Upgrading the Functionality of the NAS Infrastructure
The National Airspace System (NAS) being re-designed with NextGen capabilities will bring much benefit, as well as challenges ahead. Discussion leaders will look into:
  • Cybersecurity
  • Priorities on re-design input and access to the NAS
  • Data Integration (domestically and internationally)
  • System management
  • Updates on ERAM (En-Route Automation Modernization) transition (automation transformation challenges)
  • Matthew Hampton, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Aviation & Special Programs, US Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General
2:30 p.m. Networking Break
3:00 p.m. Interactive Workshops B:
B-1. Reaping NextGen Benefits from FMS (Flight Management Systems)
Modern flight management systems offer much support on NextGen capabilities, such as trajectory based operations (TBO), optimized profile descents (OPD) and require time-of-arrivals (RTA). This discussion will explore:
  • Future NextGen concepts maximizing current FMS systems
  • ADS-B interoperability, such as utilizing ADS-B IN data
  • New possible roles of pilots and controllers in an automated environment
  • System accommodations for newer aircraft capabilities and mixed equipage
  • Impact of non-aviation interferences (ie. LightSquared GPS network)
  • Requirements needed to support future trajectory-based operations
B-2. Implications of UAS Integration in the NAS
With the increase in potential applications of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), government agencies and private organizations are looking to utilize these remotely-piloted vehicles in the civil airspace.
  • Update on FAA policy decisions regarding UAS
  • What procedures are being developed to enable UAS operations in the NAS?
  • Issues and opportunities for commercial aviation
  • Michael R. Garvin, Jr., Executive Director, NextGen Institute
  • Dr. Edgar G. Waggoner, Director, Integrated Systems Research Program Office, NASA

 
4:30 p.m. Conclusion of Interactive Workshops
DAY TWO – Tuesday, April 24, 2012
8:00 a.m. Networking Breakfast Registration Opens
9:00 a.m. Welcome Remarks
9:15 a.m. Opening Address
9:45 a.m. Keynote Address
10:15 a.m. Networking Break
10:45 a.m. International Collaboration
  • International interoperability
  • FAA/Eurocontrol coordination on ATM procedures
  • Explanation and progress from proposed program at GANIS
  • Environmental aspect in international communities
  • ICAO block upgrade programs and application in US and Europe
  • Richard "Macka" Macfarlane, Chief, Communications Navigation & Surveillance (CNS), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
11:45 a.m.

Public-Private Partnerships
In April 2011, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act included an amendment authorizing a public-private partnership (PPP) approach to accelerating NextGen through private-sector funding with federal loan guarantees. What are the potential opportunities across all operational programs? What does this mean for early adopters who have already invested with their own capital? What definitions need to be considered in the Service Level Agreements or long-term lease agreements?

  • Pat McNall, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Acquisition and Business & Chief Acquisition Officer, FAA
12:30 p.m.

Luncheon

Sponsored by PwC
2:00 p.m.

RTCA NAC’s Business Case &Performance Metrics Working Group

  • Debby Kirkman, Architect for NAS Performance & Policy, The MITRE Corporation
  • Ed Lohr, Director, Fleet Strategy, Delta Air Lines
2:30 p.m. Concurrent Discussions:
These afternoon sessions are designed for executives to discover creative concepts, and stimulate discussions to challenge all stakeholders, public and private, in moving NextGen forward. Each session will begin with a realistic case study featuring quantitative data and benefits, and/or updates on the program with latest metrics. The speaker will then be joined by 1-2 discussion leaders to review the presentation and pertinent issues, as well as discuss innovative and different approaches to leveraging existing processes.
C-1. ADS-B
  • Case study results of ADS-B utilization
  • Reviews on training and equipage requirements
  • Current regulatory considerations
  • Innovations in operational trials
  • Updates on ADS-B ground infrastructure and integration to ATC automation systems
  • Speaker: Captain Joe Burns, Managing Director, Technology and Flight Test, United Airlines
  • Discussion Leader: Dr. John Cavolowsky, Director, Airspace Systems Program Office, NASA

 
C-2. Data-Comm
As the NAS (National Airspace System) transitions the information/data flow between AOC and aircraft from a voice communication system to digital link, what will be the transition path, as well as design for integration of ground automation and communication networks?
  • Improving on technologies’ funding cuts
  • Updates on programs and capabilities (ex. FANS, LINK2000+, Iridium, etc.)
  • Reviews on industry recommendations (RTCA SC-214), and impact on the FAA Data-Comm program and DCIT (Data-Comm Implementation Team)
4:00 p.m. Coffee Break
4:15 p.m. Concurrent Discussions:
D-1. RNP
  • Quantitative cost-benefit analysis on featured RNP case-study
  • Analysis of current regulations, approvals and trials
  • Innovative capabilities and applications for RNP – design automation, enhancing with other enablers, etc.
  • Removing obstacles from RNP
  • Reviews on training and procedure requirements
  • Automating approach designs/procedures?
  • Speaker: Sarah Dalton, Director, Airspace and Technology, Alaska Airlines
  • Discussion Leaders: PBN - Chris Baur, FRAeS, President, Hughes Aerospace Corporation
D-2. SWIM (System Wide Information Management)
SWIM will be the platform for integration of multiple legacy systems, such as weather, surveillance, traffic flow and more, to empower the entire NAS community with accessible, shared data for effective air traffic management. Designing SWIM as an SOA (service-oriented architecture) ensures interoperability among pertinent systems for real-time intelligence and CDM (collaborative decision making). SWIM is already deployed in key NextGen systems, such as the Corridor Integrated Weather System. What benchmarking strategies from current projects will be used for integration of other systems?
  • FAA roadmap on merging varied networks with different operating standards
  • Preventive measures for system vulnerabilities (access, IP, etc.)
  • Project priorities on data integration and architecture design
  • Ahmad Usmani, SWIM Program Manager, FAA
5:45 p.m. Cocktail Reception
6:45 p.m. Close of Day Two
DAY THREE – Wednesday, April 25, 2012
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens Networking Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Day Three Keynote Address
9:00 a.m. FAA Updates on Procedures and Policies
  • Ability of FAA to adapt and support in FY2012-2013
  • NextGen Implementation Plan schedule updates and reviews
  • Process on procedures getting published
9:45 a.m. Collaborative Air Traffic Management
Collaborative Air Traffic Management draws the entire system (people, processes and technologies) together to provide an improved end-to-end traffic flow management that meets preferences or restrictions from all parties.
  • Surface movement management
  • Airline/airport collaboration
  • Variances in airport capabilities
  • Results and recommendations from successful operational trials
  • Dr. Robert Hoffman, Principal Analyst and Director, Advanced Research Group, Metron Aviation
10:45 a.m. Networking Break
11:00 a.m.

Optimization of the Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM)
Some metroplex areas have now gone through initial review, design and implementation…what’s next? Lessons learned for upcoming areas? What considerations will be taken to incorporate approved NextGen procedures? What are the short-term and long-term obstacles and benefits?

  • Captain Brian Townsend, Flight Technical Operations, US Airways
11:45 a.m. Training, Culture and Change –How to Make It Happen
How are we going to change the current culture to enable a full NextGen 4D TBO from gate to gate? With any implementation of initiatives, programs or technologies, it has to be more than changing the culture, but having your workforce embrace your initiatives towards operational excellence, and being trained and equipped properly. This session will discuss understanding and improving transitions of change management to achieve operational effectiveness.
  • Regulations and standardizations on training
  • Scalable performance assessments
  • Recognizing and properly managing misunderstandings and unproductive behavior
  • Effective communications for union and workforce support
12:30 p.m. 2012 NextGen Ahead conference concludes