FAA Expands Its Role in Florida NextGen Test Bed With Daytona Installation

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University issued the following news release:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has doubled the size of the Florida NextGen Test Bed, where researchers from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and aerospace partners are demonstrating new technologies that will help transform the nation's air traffic system to increase safety, efficiency, and capacity for the flying public.

The expanded facility, located at Daytona Beach International Airport, will officially open Nov. 7 with a field hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chaired by U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL) at 10 a.m. and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m.

The FAA administers the Test Bed, which has been expanded to 10,000 square feet, and provides guidance for NextGen proof-of-concept programs. Embry-Riddle manages the facility, conducts research there, and coordinates the work of engineers from industry and government agencies.

In addition to Embry-Riddle, other research partners are ATH Group; Barco; The Boeing Company; Computer Sciences Corp.; County of Volusia; Daytona Beach International Airport; ENSCO Inc.; Frequentis; General Electric; Harris Corp.; Jeppesen; Lockheed Martin; Mosaic ATM Inc.; Saab-Sensis Corp.; and Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.

"We appreciate the continuing trust the FAA and our corporate partners have in Embry-Riddle in this important program to improve air travel," said Christina Frederick-Recascino, senior executive vice president for academics and research at Embry-Riddle. "It is an exciting opportunity for our faculty researchers and our students. This facility allows Embry-Riddle to partner with the FAA and corporate leaders to provide solutions to real-world aviation problems."

"These are exciting times for aviation," said Wade Lester, Embry-Riddle's NextGen program manager. "Ultimately, we all want to make flying better for everyone, and it will take government, industry, and academia working together to make that happen."

Several demonstrations have already been conducted since 2008 at the Test Bed. Researchers have integrated information about predicted weather and flight trajectories into an automated en route system called ERAM and a terminal management system called TMA. They also have exchanged data about aircraft movement on airport surfaces and aircraft flying across the Atlantic Ocean.

Future tasks include an exchange of flight information for planes crossing the Pacific Ocean, the investigation of commercial integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system, and the use of four-dimensional trajectories assigned to aircraft to manage aircraft routes.

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