Government and industry officials on Monday will mark the opening of the Florida NextGen Test Bed, a laboratory where new and emerging Next Generation Air Transportation (NextGen) concepts and technologies can be demonstrated and tested.
The NextGen Test Bed, located at Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA), was established by the Integrated Airport Initiative (IAI). Lockheed Martin and ERAU created the IAI in 2006. Today, its membership has grown to 15 partners, including DBIA, Barco, Boeing, CSC, ENSCO, Frequentis, GE, Harris, Mosaic ATM, NATS, Sensis and Volpe.
“The NextGen Test Bed enables real world validation of concepts that will enhance safety, capacity, efficiency and security at airports nationwide,” said Sandy Samuel, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Transportation Solutions. “Lockheed Martin is proud to support the FAA in transforming our national airspace, and making travel easier than ever before.”
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the FAA’s En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program. Additionally, Lockheed Martin is a member of the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC), which is working with the FAA to develop a common understanding of priorities for NextGen capabilities and implementation constraints. Lockheed Martin will host the NAC’s next public meeting at ERAU on Feb. 2.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is holding a field hearing on Monday at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Speakers include FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, Embry-Riddle President John P. Johnson, President and CEO Aerospace Industries Association Marion C. Blakey, and Gerald L. Dillingham, director, Physical Infrastructure Division, Government Accountability Office.