ITT Exelis team targets huge FAA opportunity

ITT Exelis has forged a team that includes other systems integrators and major airlines in its bid for a critical part of the Federal Aviation Administration?s multi-billion dollar NextGen program.

The company is one of the bidders on the FAA Data Communications Integrated Services contract that will help modernize the U.S. air traffic control systems. ITT Exelis is pursuing the portion of the contract that will provide digital communication between air traffic controllers and flight crews.

The team includes Airbus, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Computer Sciences Corp., Rockwell Collins and Raytheon.

The company touted the strength of its team because it will bring the airlines and aircraft manufacturers into the process with the FAA.

A digital communications system will allow controllers to send instructions to planes simultaneously, streamline the flight process and create shorter flight times, ITT Exelis said in a statement.

ITT Exelis currently is building the first part of NextGen by installing the ground infrastructure for the system. That phase will be completed by 2013, the company said.

According to Deltek, proposals were submitted on Oct. 3. An award is expected by June.

General Dynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Airtel-ATN, Alvarez Group, AT&T, EMS Aviation, NAV CANADA, Northrop Grumman, NEXA Capital Partners, PwC, Selex Communications, Saab Sensis, Crown Consulting, HyperNet Solutions, Lexem Strategy, Tantus, and UPS round out the ITT Exelis DCIS team.