AOPA and ATC Privatization

On Sat, 06 Sep 2003 15:09:04 GMT, "Chip Jones"
wrote in Message-Id:
. net:

What "technology?"


"New air traffic management technologies abound..."



http://www.boeing.com/atm/bold/index.html
Air Traffic Management
Bold Approach


Introduction to Boeing Concept: Comprehensive Change

Boeing takes an uncommon approach to air traffic management. New air
traffic management technologies abound, and some of them are being
pilot-tested at airports and on airplanes today. On closer scrutiny,
however, these technology-driven solutions do not revolutionize the
air traffic system on a global scale. Boeing not only will integrate
all the discrete elements of an entire airspace system to achieve
lasting results, but we have the resources, intellectual property and
large-scale integration expertise to implement programs of this scope.
The objectives of the program are to:


Make flying even safer and more secure.

The concept will support real-time detection, response and consequence
management using a highly integrated global system perspective to
coordinate strategies among the many public and private stakeholders
when threats emerge.


Increase capacity, even as air traffic levels rise.

More accurate forecasts of traffic volume, real-time flight replanning
and tools for fast-forward simulation of system flows to evaluate
potential consequences of changes to a flight plan or traffic flow
will all help increase capacity.


Dramatically reduce congestion and delays.

Air traffic managers will use far more accurate aircraft monitoring to
alleviate congestion around crowded airports at peak times. New
procedures, tools and airspace design will enhance safety factors
while permitting closer minimum spacing than is possible today using
ground-based radar equipment.


Keep aviation affordable and accessible for commercial, military,
business and general aviation operators.

Equipage costs and airspace design will have a substantial effect on
user access to the aviation system. Boeing is working with major
stakeholders, including noncommercial operators, to define overall
system requirements.

See the graphic for an illustration of the envisioned system.

--

Irrational beliefs ultimately lead to irrational acts.
-- Larry Dighera,

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 06 Sep 2003 15:09:04 GMT, "Chip Jones"
wrote in Message-Id:
. net:

What "technology?"


"New air traffic management technologies abound..."


Pardon me Larry, but everything in the Boeing propoganda that you posted is
conceptual. *Specifically* what new technologies does Boeing have? Ever
notice how they don't get specific? Oh, that's right- it's proprietary.
"Give us a contract and then we'll let you know what we can do with it".

Chip, ZTL

On Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:52:50 GMT, "Chip Jones"
wrote in Message-Id:
. net:


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 06 Sep 2003 15:09:04 GMT, "Chip Jones"
wrote in Message-Id:
. net:

What "technology?"


"New air traffic management technologies abound..."


Pardon me Larry, but everything in the Boeing propoganda that you posted is
conceptual. *Specifically* what new technologies does Boeing have? Ever
notice how they don't get specific? Oh, that's right- it's proprietary.
"Give us a contract and then we'll let you know what we can do with it".

Chip, ZTL


Here's a little more information on Boeing's ATC activities:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
AVflash Volume 9, Number 28b July 10, 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------------

BOEING LOOKS TO THE ATC MARKET...
Boeing says it (with help from some other companies) has what it takes
to make the National Airspace System (NAS) more efficient and safer.
The company hopes to clinch a big deal with the FAA to design, produce
and implement a new, fully integrated air traffic flow system that
will maximize use of the capacity of the National Airspace System.
Boeing's Air Traffic Management business unit has formed a team to
tackle this daunting project. Joining Boeing are Raytheon Inc., Metron
Aviation Inc., KENROB, RLM Software and WSI Corporation.
http://www.avweb.com/newswire/9_28b/...5303-1.html#1a


Raytheon Inc.
http://www.raytheon.com/
http://www.raytheon.com/products/cnsatm/
http://www.raytheon.com/products/tracview/
http://www.raytheon.com/products/autotrac/
http://www.raytheon.com/products/caats/

Metron Aviation Inc.
http://www.metronaviation.com/
http://www.metronaviation.com/products.html
http://www.metronaviation.com/airspace-design.html
http://www.metronaviation.com/traffic-flow-mgt.html
http://www.metronaviation.com/op-support.html

KENROB
http://www.kenrob.com/
http://www.kenrob.com/index.mv?content=contractVehicles
http://www.kenrob.com/index.mv?content=synContent

RLM Software
http://www.rlmsoftware.com/About/
http://www.rlmsoftware.com/Products/

http://www.rlmsoftware.com/Products/...s/Aviation.asp

WSI Corporation
http://www.wsi.com/
http://www.wsi.com/solutions/aviation/



From the statement below one would assume Boeing had something on
paper *two* years ago:

U.S. aircraft manufacturer BOEING CO. is considering a joint
bid with the UK's BAe Systems for Britain's air traffic control
system, the Financial Times newspaper said. The paper said that
Boeing Chairman Phil Condit said his company and BAe Systems
"could be a combination" although the two parties had not yet had
any detailed talks on the subject. A combination would not be the
first link between two companies that some aerospace analysts
view as ideal candidates for a future merger. Boeing and BAe
Systems recently bid jointly for a 30% stake in Korea Aerospace
Industries.

(Reuters 07:28 PM ET 06/08/2000)

Mo

http://w3.qurio.net/news/lookup?a=51...25a&s=rb000608


But, 4 months later something soured Boeing on British ATC:

Aerospace and defence group BAE SYSTEMS and aerospace giant
BOEING CO have both pulled out of the bidding process to take a
46% stake in Britain's National Air Traffic Service, the
Financial Times said. Citing no sources, the FT said that BAE had
informed the government and Credit Suisse First Boston, the
investment bank advising the state, that it was withdrawing from
the process. Preliminary bids were due to be submitted today.
Boeing said on Thursday that it was not intending to submit an
offer as a lead investor but it would continue to consider
possible partnerships in other consortia.

(Reuters 10:35 PM ET 09/28/2000)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=6...78a&s=rb000928


But 5 months after that, Boeing is back in the running again:

BOEING CO. is to join forces with Britain's leading airlines
in their bid for a 46% stake in Britain's air traffic control
system, British newspapers reported. The papers said the U.S.
manufacturer had written to Minister of Transport Lord Macdonald
to throw its weight behind the Airline Group, a consortium
comprising eight British airlines including BRITISH AIRWAYS and
Virgin Atlantic.

(Reuters 07:13 PM ET 03/01/2001)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=1...a&s=rb01030 1


Meanwhile at home, Boeing is twisting arms to get their hands on U.S.
ATC (presumably without benefit of a competitive bidding process):

As it pitches a space-age air traffic management system
upgrade to the U.S. government, BOEING CO. might provide billions
in financing to help seal the deal, the aerospace giant said on
Tuesday. Hoping to leverage its satellite-making and launch
business and its vast collection of navigational charts, Boeing
last year created a separate air traffic unit, with its eye on a
multibillion upgrade to the antiquated U.S. system. That unit's
president, John Hayhurst, will formally present Boeing's proposal
to the FAA this spring, and that plan could include lending the
government the money to get started.

(Reuters 05:52 PM ET 01/30/2001)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=1...a&s=rb01013 0


But, Boeing may face competition from FAA:

The Federal Aviation Administration and BOEING CO. said on
Monday they will separately announce major air traffic
initiatives on Wednesday. The aerospace giant will detail its
planned satellite-based air traffic initiative, while the FAA
will outline its 10-year modernization plan. The federal agency
had planned to detail its long-range outlook on Tuesday, but
delayed the timing without giving a reason.

(Reuters 06:21 PM ET 06/04/2001)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=2...a&s=rb01060 4


It would appear that Boeing has convinced FAA:

BOEING CO. said its proposed air traffic management system,
combined with improvements by the Federal Aviation
Administration, could cut air traffic delays by 45%. Boeing would
use satellites to give pilots and air traffic controllers better
flight data and navigation tools, helping squeeze more aircraft
into crowded U.S. skies than under the current system, which uses
ground-based radar. The FAA unveiled an $11 billion plan to
modernize airports and boost air traffic control capacity by 30%
over 10 years, pledging to work with Boeing on one of the
nation's biggest transportation problems.

(Reuters 01:14 PM ET 06/06/2001)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=2...a&s=rb01060 6


And, Boeing is poking a toe in the door in Japan:

U.S. aerospace giant BOEING and Japan's Mitsubishi Electric
Corp. said they had formed a "strategic alliance" to broaden
co-operation in the global satellite business. The alliance will
focus on space-based communications, air traffic management,
multimedia navigation, space and communications services, launch
services and space infrastructure markets, the companies said.
Boeing has invested heavily in satellite factories and a new
satellite launch series and sees the MELCO alliance as a key to
capturing lucrative Asian contracts.

(Reuters 08:31 AM ET 06/20/2001)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=2...a&s=rb01062 0


And in Europe:

BOEING CO. will install its European research and development
center in Spain, sources at Spain's Industrial State Holding Co.
said. Boeing, which is due to hold a press conference on Friday
in Madrid, opted for Spain after the talks with SEPI's investment
promotion office, the sources said. The R+D center will be
located in the Madrid region and functioning by the end of the
year. It will analyze controls for acoustic and smoke emissions
and development of air traffic control systems.

(Reuters 03:14 PM ET 05/10/2001)

Mo

http://q1.schwab.com/news/lookup?a=2...a&s=rb01051 0



--

Irrational beliefs ultimately lead to irrational acts.
-- Larry Dighera,

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

[good links snipped, although some of the links were dead]

Larry, thanks a lot for taking the time to post all of those links. Like I
said, Boeing's ATC moves are conceptual in nature. Except for the new "Flow
Control" bid this summer, Boeing has been very quiet on *actual* ATC plans
and nascent ATC technology since 2001. That was the year the FAA 10-year
OEP seriously embarrassed Boeing. That was the summer that FAA announced
specific, actual steps for ATC modernization over this decade. At the same
time, Boeing could not produce any evidence of either a specific plan or a
specific technology to accomplish the vaporous ATC "improvement" goals
their quest for a *non-competitive contract* would "produce". Boeing
claimed that their plan and the technology to make it work was "secret and
proprietary". To most of us in the system, that was code for "we don't have
a plan, we don't even have the technology yet to develop a plan, but throw
us a contract anyway and we'll make it work..."

I'd also like to point out that the consortium of contractors that Boeing is
putting together to make a run on a Central Flow Control contract is not the
same as providing contract ATC services. Central Flow doesn't control
airplanes, it is staffed with displaced weenies from flight service stations
and terminal environments who don't have a clue about the actual nuts and
bolts mechanics of enroute air traffic control, and it breaks down early and
often every year. It's about the biggest collection of egg-headed FAA
management want-to-be's in the whole NAS. If Boeing and friends can clean
all of those strap hangers out the central command bunker, more power to
them.

FAA ought to let Boeing take over running all of the Regional offices
too. We have over 600 enroute CPC "controllers" working as "traffic
management coordinators" in the system right now. We have over 900 CPC
"controllers" working as air traffic office staff in the various Regional
offices, Hubs, and ARTCC's. Let Boeing run the offices and the command
center. Then we could ship those FAA central flow and office staff
"controllers" back out to the embattled field facilities, head set in hand,
to do the actual job they are getting top tax dollar to perform.

Chip, ZTL