GAITHERSBURG, MD -- Lockheed Martin (has been awarded a $344-million contract by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop and deploy the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) system. This key NextGen system will provide electronic flight strips as well as improved surface management tools that will allow streamlined operations in the air traffic control towers for busy airports. The TFDM contract period of performance has a five-year base with seven one-year options.
Lockheed Martin along with principal subcontractor Saab Sensis will be using proven technology to develop the system. TFDM will work by integrating digital flight plans with surface surveillance data to create accurate, real-time predictive tools for the terminal environment. TFDM will share data among controllers, aircraft operators and airports so they can better stage arrivals and departures, and manage traffic flow within terminal airspace for greater efficiency. Additionally, the surface departure management will improve gate departure efficiency for the airlines and will significantly reduce or eliminate queues of airplanes waiting for departure on a runway.
"More than 23,000 flights take place every day, making it crucial for airports to leverage the most innovative systems and technology to keep airport traffic consistently flowing," said Paul Engola, vice president of Transportation and Financial Solutions for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS). "The benefits of the Terminal Flight Data Manager tools are far-reaching, not only improving the passenger experience with fewer delays and missed connections, but also lowering greenhouse gas emissions through reduced airplane taxi times."
Lockheed Martin IS&GS currently provides air traffic controller automation to the Air Route Traffic Control Centers for high altitude and oceanic air traffic control. Lockheed Martin IS&GS also provides the automation for Time Based Flow Management, a key decision support tool. This contract will expand its relationship with the FAA into a new area of service, providing surface departure management to the largest and busiest airports in need of process improvement on the ground and in the air.
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