Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, will continue to shape Alaska’s air
transportation system as part of a 10-year, $85 million contract awarded to the
company by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The contract has a
five-year base, with five one-year options.
As the prime contractor for the Alaskan Satellite Telecommunications Infrastructure (ASTI) program, Harris will replace and
upgrade the existing satellite communications network that links the Alaskan
Air Route Traffic Control Center in Anchorage with 64 FAA facilities throughout
the region, including 59 remote sites, three flight service stations (FSSs),
and a test and training facility (TTF).
The ASTI program will provide increased network performance and availability while reducing the FAA’s cost of operating and
maintaining the current Alaskan National Airspace System Interfacility
Communication System (ANICS).
This infrastructure provides Alaska with 90 percent of its inter-facility communications for critical, essential and routine air
traffic control services supporting commercial aviation.
Under the ASTI program, Harris will replace and upgrade ANICS system components that have become obsolete orhave been affected by the harsh Alaskan weather, as well as provide a new
network management system, system security enhancements, logistics support and
training.
The ASTI program builds on Harris’ communication networks and Air Traffic Control systems expertise with the FAA and the Alaskan
aviation community,” said John O’Sullivan, vice president, Harris Mission
Critical Networks.
We operate the FAA’s nationwide telecommunications network and were the original supplier of their ANICS network. We know the
vital importance of communications to the FAA’s mission and the trust the FAA
puts in us to ensure that new technology is transitioned in a manner that does
not impact Alaskan air traffic operations,” Sullivan added.
Harris has extensive experience developing solutions for the FAA. In addition to ASTI, and ANICS, Harris also is the prime
contractor for the FAA’s Operational and Supportability Implementation System
(OASIS).
OASIS provides integrated weather briefing and flight planning capabilities for preflight weather briefings and in-flight updates for
Alaska’s general aviation community.
Other FAA programs developed by Harris include the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) and the Weather and Radar Processor
(WARP), a weather system serving the en-route air traffic control environment;
and the Voice Switching and Control System (VSCS).
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
