Funding has been approved for nationwide deployment of ADS-B, which the FAA calls the backbone for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). ADS-B’s major asset is increased cockpit situational awareness and the fact it brings the precision and reliability of satellite-based surveillance to air traffic control. With real-time situational awareness, ADS-B promises to increase capacity and efficiency by allowing aircraft to fly closer while maintaining safety.
The FAA’s Joint Resources Council (JRC), a team of top FAA executives, tasked with reviewing major acquisitions, approved the implementation of phase two of ADS-B implementation, which runs from 2009 to 2014. It also approved moving the Alaska Capstone project, used to prove the technology since 2000, into the national program in addition to expanding Capstone services within the state. Capstone resulted in a dramatic drop in the state’s fatal accident rate. Combining Capstone with the national ADS-B program ensures that development of the Alaska aviation infrastructure will be on par with the national infrastructure as developed in the lower 48 states. 
In July, after the contract is negotiated, the JRC will review the business model in the proposed contract. Based on a successful JRC investment decision, the agency will award the contract for establishing the ADS-B ground infrastructure and providing broadcast services. This will be a performance-based contract in which the FAA will pay “subscription” charges for the ADS-B services and the vendor will be responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure.
In June 2006, the ADS-B program received JRC approval for segment one, along with funding for 2007 and 2008. In segment one, the FAA will install ADS-B at Philadelphia, Louisville, and Juneau; and install new stations on oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, where there is no radar surveillance. Segment one also includes the expansion of ADS-B broadcast services along the East Coast, throughout North Dakota, and along the lower part of the U.S. to Arizona and through Southern California. In addition, it involves the development of ADS-B separation standards and software to interface between ADS-B and other air traffic control systems. In addition, it involves the development of ADS-B separation standards and software to interface between ADS-B and other air traffic control systems.
The JRC also validated cost savings resulting from the ADS-B back-up plan, completed late last year. The back-up plan calls for maintaining 50 percent of the secondary radars, which will provide ATC services in case of a loss or degradation of the GPS signal. This move allows the agency to remove 50 percent of its current secondary radars, saving money in the program’s baseline.
The ADS-B program office selected ITT, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to participate in further acquisition activities leading to the contract award. Based on a successful JRC investment decision, the agency will award the contract for establishing the ADS-B ground infrastructure and providing broadcast services in July. This will be a performance-based contract in which the FAA will pay “subscription” charges for the ADS-B services and the vendor will be responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure.