Global Access Architecture
Abstract
This program element funds the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Aerospace Management Systems Division (AMSD), the designated Air Force (AF) Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) and Navigation Safety Center of Excellence (COE). In accordance with AFI 63-101 and AFPAM 63-129, the COE conducts highly specialized analysis, engineering assessments, and performance monitoring of military and civil CNS/ATM capabilities which ensures manned and unmanned aircraft system conformance to national and international civil aviation standards, allowing safe and efficient access to global airspace. The COE's assessment of compliance with CNS/ATM standards feed directly into the Airworthiness approval process, according to Airworthiness Bulletin-325. The COE provides centralized avionics expertise to Headquarters Air Force, AF Major Commands (MAJCOM), and weapon system program offices. This centralized CNS/ATM technical expertise capability supplements all MAJCOMs and AF weapon system program offices. This program primarily supports the acquisition of contractor Advisory and Assistance Service (A&AS) and other technical support personnel to support the efforts described in Section C. The majority of COE funding is allocated to engineering services provided by a Federally Funded Research and Development Center and contractor support. A reduction in budget will directly affect all aircraft program offices looking to equip with the latest CNS/ATM capabilities required for airspace access, preferred routing, or increased safety of flight. Per AFPAM 63-129 the COE must maintain an online site for dissemination of CNS/ATM information as well as a catalog of common CNS/ATM products. The COE is overhauling its online presence through a Phase II SBIR effort to consolidate COE activities and streamline operations in a ‘one-stop shop' storefront. It provides seamless data management, centralized knowledge hub, engineering workspace, communications management, working group management, and CNS/ATM product catalog. The website may also be used as a foundational platform to increase collaboration amongst key CNS/ATM stakeholders. An example of this is consolidated avionics equipage information being stored on the site to answer queries from leadership, civil aviation authorities, and the operational community. Organic and/or contractor-support sustainment funding for the COE online storefront will be required starting in FY23 following the development of the site. This funding enables the COE to participate in government and industry technical forums as well as U.S. and international civil aviation standards bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), a Department of Defense (DoD) voting member of the Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) and others. These organizations are responsible for the development and assessment of international civil aviation standards for safe and efficient flight operations in worldwide airspace. COE personnel analyze civil aviation standards as they are being developed and work to influence them to support DoD interests. Applicable technical and engineering criteria established by U.S. and international civil aviation standards are documented in the COE maintained Generic Performance Matrices (GPMs). The COE works with MAJCOM and aircraft System Program Office (SPO) personnel and develops strategies to implement CNS/ATM capability requirements on AF weapon systems as well as tailor the GPMs to each platform's unique avionics architecture and operational mission. After completion of CNS/ATM component integration and testing, COE personnel validate platform performance against the aviation standards necessary for the platform to interoperate with air traffic control and other airspace users safely and efficiently in worldwide airspace. The resulting performance assessment reports are submitted to the aircraft program office and becomes part of their Airworthiness and Operational Safety, Sustainability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) certification package. The COE provides technical analysis and assessments of CNS/ATM and navigation safety avionics equipment throughout the life cycle of manned and unmanned aircraft platforms. Efforts include but are not limited to performance assessment, test support, performance monitoring, interoperability testing, cybersecurity assessments, and the development of CNS/ATM capabilities for unmanned platforms. Unmanned platform support includes location-specific Ground Based Detect and Avoid (GBDAA) radar and airspace characterization, and evaluation of emerging unmanned aircraft system technologies. Currently, the COE is surging to meet program office assessment demands. In addition, the COE is projecting an increase in Communications and Navigation performance assessments beginning in FY22 through the FYDP due to new CNS/ATM capabilities to include, but not limited to: M-Code, ARC-210 replacements, SATCOM upgrades, and performance based navigation. The COE administers and manages multiple contracts including the electronic Global Air Traffic Management (iGATM) catalog to enable centralized procurement of CNS/ATM and navigation safety avionics equipment, navigation data, and technical engineering services for aircraft platform program offices and other mission partners. Technical engineering services may include avionics interoperability testing, cybersecurity assessments, and the development and assessment of CNS/ATM capabilities for emerging unmanned platform technologies. The iGATM catalog may also offer hardware, software, risk kits, operations and training materials, and the installation and check-out of GBDAA and other emerging unmanned see and avoid technologies and systems. These contracts are used by aircraft program offices across the DoD, among other federal agencies, and in support of foreign military sales. The Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) electronic navigation database is developed and maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and contains critical safety of flight information used by the majority of DoD flight crews to fly Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) procedures, safely navigate airways and fly Instrument Approach Procedures (IAPs) to civil and military airfields worldwide. The COE performs periodic and event driven audits of NGA navigation source data, alternate industry navigation source data providers, and navigation data software tools required by civil aviation authorities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver the Global Air Traffic Management system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. In FY20 $0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY21 $0.000M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 674689_0305099F_7_3600_PB_2022
Related Documents
- Root: Global Air Traffic Management (GATM)
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- Child Accomplishment: CNS/ATM COE Standards Bodies Engagement and Generic Performance Matrix (GPM) Development
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