National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center

The National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC) was founded July 1, 1958, by the Airways Modernization Board (AMB) and located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, near Atlantic City, New Jersey. On November 1, 1959, after passage of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, it came under the newly created US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).[1] Its purpose was to conduct research and development on air traffic control computers, transponders, and advanced radar equipment. The success (in terms of funding and research activity) eventually forced the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) to close its own Technical Evaluation and Development Center in Indianapolis starting in 1959.

The computerized air traffic control developed at NAFEC was based on the IBM 9020, special hardware developed by IBM. Software was developed by NAFEC, IBM, and under contract to Computer Usage Company.[2] The system remained in operation until the 1980s.[3] The former 1942 Naval Air Station became the Atlantic City International Airport,[4] and the center is now called the William J. Hughes Technical Center, named for William J. Hughes.[5] Since 1958, the center's core activities were accelerating programs to improve aviation safety and updating the air traffic control system, Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) being a part of it. Besides the research and development project work, the FAA field facilities have daily operational support all over the country from the center operating 24-hour. In order to make critical systems remain operational, center experts analyze problems and make software changes. [6]

Early Achievements[6]

1961 - Automation data processing center work to automate Air Traffic Control

1963 - First Wake Vortex Turbulence Test by helicopter

1966 - First operational testing of an Automated En-route Air Traffic Control System

1966 - Introduction of the Visual Approach Slope Indicator to provide improved guidance to runways

1972 - First Air Traffic Control Tower cab mock up to test controller work areas and do airport observations

Other achievements which have recently enhanced the efficiency and safety of the flying public comprise of :

Air Traffic Control Displays

Satellite Navigation

Tower Laboratory Simulations

Weather

Reduced Vertical Separation Minima

Human Factors

Aircraft Fire Safety

Engineered Material Arrestor System

Foreign Object Debris Detection and

The Traffic Flow Management System.

References

  1. ↑ "FAA Historical Chronology, 1926–1996" (PDF). Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ George R. Trimble Jr. (June 24, 2005). "CUC History". Computer History Museum. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  3. ↑ Robert L. Glass (1998). In the beginning: personal recollections of software pioneers. IEEE Computer Society. ISBN 978-0-8186-7999-5.
  4. ↑ "Atlantic City Naval Air Station, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey fact sheet" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers. December 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ "William J. Hughes Technical Center". Federal Aviation Administration web site. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  6. 1 2 "History". Federal Aviation Administration.

External links

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