Why the NextGen Test Bed?

The FAA and its industry partners require an environment for the development of NextGen concepts and technology. The NextGen Test Bed provides a robust platform where integration and testing takes place without affecting day-to-day air traffic operations.

In 2007, then-FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey told Congress that one of the fundamental problems faced by the administration was that it was working with severely outdated air traffic control technology.

She further stated that radars limited the amount of traffic that the system can currently handle, that the 1950s technology currently used performed updates too slowly, and that the speed of voice communications between pilots and air traffic controllers was insufficient.

“That system is simply not going to accommodate future aviation demand,” Blakey said.

The nation’s air-traffic system currently handles more than 750 million passengers a year on more than 13 million flights. By 2015, the FAA estimates that more than 1 billion passengers a year will travel on more than 15 million commercial flights.

Without innovations and technologies being evaluated by Embry-Riddle, our nation’s airports will be burdened by longer delays, skyrocketing costs, and increased risk of runway incursions and midair collisions.

In 2007 alone, delays cost airline passengers more than 320 million hours and, according to Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, more than $41 billion in airline costs, lost productivity and business opportunities for passengers, and lost revenue opportunities for businesses.

Safety is also a serious concern. Last year, more than 600,000 pilots made more than 61 million takeoffs and landings—all guided by 14,000 air traffic controllers at some 500 airports. Without situational awareness and surface management capabilities now being evaluated, the risk for runway incursions could become an increasing threat as congestion expands.

Since 2003 there have been more than 1000 runway incursions. Officials confirmed that more than 3,300 accidents occurred on U.S. taxiways and runways in 2007, resulting in more than 580 fatalities. Systems exist that will curb these accidents, and they are being tested and modeled at ERAU’s NextGen Test Bed.