FAA Uses GPS Tracking-Based System to Increase Efficiency

Do you hate sitting in an airport terminal waiting for your flight, only to discover that a delay will cause you to miss your next connection? How about those inevitable delays when you’re waiting to pick up a friend or family member? Thanks to a new GPS tracking-based system developed by Exelis, those kinds of issues won’t happen nearly as often. The FAA is already in the process of installing the ground infrastructure needed to support the new system, and hopes to be operational in the near future.

Satellite-Based Surveillance

The FAA has been working with Exelis to develop a new way to track flights in the air. Based on Exelis’ nationwide Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, the satellite-based surveillance will track aircraft in the air, broadcast that data to ground stations, and relay the information to air traffic controllers.

Pam Drew, a spokesperson for Exelis, said that the new system will provide updates every second, which is far more often than the current system can. That means aircraft locations will be more precise, allowing more planes to land safely and accurately. Not only does that mean fewer delays for passengers, but also better cost efficiency for airlines.

Known as NextGen, the GPS tracking-based Exelis system will benefit both passengers and those in the air traffic industry by:

• Reducing delays


• Increasing data accuracy


• Making air travel safer


• Increasing cost efficiency

With air travel becoming increasingly necessary for both business and pleasure trips, the benefits of the NextGen initiative will relieve much of the pressure and stress associated with flying.

Who Is Exelis?

Exelis develops solutions for companies and departments around the globe in the fields of aerospace, information, air traffic, surveillance, communications, and more. The company has been in the technology industry for 50 years providing new technology solutions, managing systems integration, offering team leadership, and developing innovative new ideas. Exelis specializes in the following fields:

Aerostructures	Design, fabrication, and assembly for fixed wing air craft, rotor craft, engines, and missiles
Electric Systems	IED jammers, smartphone security
Geospatial Systems	GPS, surveillance, reconnaissance
Night Vision and Communications	Night vision, communication networks, testing and support
Information Systems	Air traffic, space network communications, cyber solutions
Mission Systems	IT, engineering, base operations

 

Benefits of the NextGen System

The experience Exelis has in the field of GPS technology makes it the perfect business to partner with the FAA in developing safer, more efficient methods of tracking and directing aircraft. The current system is long overdue for modernization, having been in use since the early days of air travel.

In addition to the overarching benefits of safety, efficiency, and reduced delays, the FAA expects to see progress in the specific areas of communication and costs savings. These include:

• Digital voice data transmissions—This will allow air traffic controllers to broadcast messages to multiple planes at the same time rather than one at a time as the current system requires.


• 35% reduction in flight delays—The more precise aircraft location and management data will enable airlines to improve the flow of aircraft through the airport. That translates into time savings and reduced delays for passengers.


• $29 billion per year in savings on fuel, delays, and carbon emissions—Greater efficiency means less fuel spent per trip, fewer carbon emissions, and less time lost. The FAA expects to save 1.4 billion gallons of fuel over five years.

Is NextGen Hacker-Proof?

GPS “spoofing” creates a situation in which a spoofer, or hacker, can broadcast false GPS signals that overpower the true GPS signals, enabling the spoofer to misdirect a plane or vehicle. A confirmed case of spoofing occurred in June of 2013 when some students aboard a luxury yacht spoofed the yacht’s navigation signals and directed it to a different location.

Pam Drew of Exelis asserts that the NextGen system will be security-certified and hacker-proof, alleviating concerns about potential terrorist attacks based on spoofing. In addition to the system security, NextGen will also include a network of data processing systems which can cross-correlate the GPS information with radar signals from the ground. This will allow for double and triple checking of coordinates and flight information, making spoofing almost impossible.

Building a Better Society With GPS Tracking

GPS tracking has already been instrumental in reducing carbon emissions and saving money for hundreds of companies that use fleet vehicles. The tracking systems allow for better data gathering, which can instigate behavioral changes that benefit not only the companies involved, but also the environment.

With NextGen, the FAA will be able to initiate those same kinds of positive changes for the air travel industry. With implications for both commercial travel and the military, NextGen provides a stepping stone toward creating a cleaner world, more efficient aircraft, and safer skies.

FAA Uses GPS Tracking-Based System to Increase Efficiency