Aviation Today’s Avionics Magazine and standards-setting organization RTCA have teamed to present a conference, “NowGen NEXT,” September 15 in Washington, D.C. The one-day conference, featuring FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt as keynote speaker, will be the public unveiling of the recommendations of RTCA’s NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force, formed in February at FAA’s request to recommend a prioritized list of operational capabilities to achieve Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) by 2018. The acceleration of NextGen was given a further boost with the Senate Reauthorization legislation now making its way through Congress. Related Story

The Task Force will recommend to FAA and aircraft operators what should be implemented, and when and where, in terms of infrastructure, aircraft equipage, policies, procedures and training to achieve these NextGen mid-term operational capabilities. With this ambitious agenda, it was given a tight deadline — the Task Force is expected to deliver its recommendations by the end of August 31.

An operational capability, as defined by the Task Force, is a process that moves an aircraft more efficiently during departure; allows for a preferred en route trajectory; provides an optimum profile descent, approach and landing; and/or improves system flexibility in irregular operations. In its Interim Report released June 30, the Task Force said it will “deliver a short list of actionable recommendations that is long on detail,” with associated costs, benefits and suggested implementation strategies. Each recommended capability will include one or more operators that have committed to making the necessary investments in equipment, training and procedures.

Among other FAA executives expected to speak are Henry P. Krawkowski, chief operating officer of the agency’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO); Peggy Gilligan, deputy associate administrator for Aviation Safety; and Victoria Cox, ATO senior vice president for NextGen and Operations Planning. The task force leadership, led by Chair Steve Dickson, senior vice president of flight operations with Delta Air Lines, will explain the recommendations in a series of presentations and panel discussions.

Bill Carey, editor of Aviation Today’s Avionics Magazine, and RTCA President Margaret T. Jenny, will serve as conference co-chair. RTCA, formerly known as the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, is a not-for-profit organization that develops “consensus-based” recommendations in the areas of Communications, Navigation and Surveillance. It has the status of a Federal Advisory Committee that FAA uses in developing policy and regulatory decisions.

To register for this ground-breaking event click here:  www.aviationtoday.com/rtca/