Controllers Dispute FTI Virtues

The FAA’s  Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) network is unreliable and lacks suitable backups, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). The FTI program, which is provided by Harris Corporation, has had numerous problems from the start, including insufficient training of contractors, poor planning and management, and substandard service. Furthermore, with no services to fall back on when there are problems with FTI, there is even greater risk of outages occurring repeatedly at facilities throughout the country, the controllers union added. “FTI is the poster child for the FAA’s inability to grasp the concept that reliable air traffic control equipment must trump cost savings as a priority and the way to safely modernize the system is to increase redundancy, not run it on the cheap and further advance a ‘I’ll fix it when it fails’ philosophy,” NATCA President Patrick Forrey said.