May 5 , 2006
Helicopter Association International (HAI) President Matt Zuccaro joined Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Marion C. Blakey at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 2, 2006, for a media briefing on the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) program and its future role in air traffic control, particularly for helicopters in the Gulf of Mexico. To read President Zuccaro's remarks, click here .
Offshore helicopter operations in the Gulf of Mexico will directly benefit when the first segment of ADS-B to provide communications, navigation and surveillance as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS) is deployed in 2007.
FAA Administrator Blakey told reporters that the agency has requested $80 million in the fiscal year 2007 budget to begin initial implementation of ADS-B. The FAA is also looking at the possibility of rulemaking that would mandate the avionics necessary for implementing ADS-B across the national airspace system. The agency plans a meeting of its Joint Resources Council (JRC) in June to consider funding approval for implementation of ADS-B in select operational areas, the Gulf of Mexico being one such initial program planned for segment one of the FAA ADS-B program.
The FAA program to provide ADS-B implementation in the Gulf of Mexico will enhance overall safety of operations, provide low level communications, facilitate Air Traffic Control surveillance of aircraft operating in the Gulf, provide current and forecast weather information, and also facilitate situational awareness between aircraft. Additionally the operational efficiency, and capacity of helicopters in the Gulf, will benefit from availability of these services.
The initial steps to make ADS-B a reality in the Gulf of Mexico have been taken in the form of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), between the FAA and industry, which outlines the program, the participants, and the obligations of each. Simply stated the commitment from the FAA is to fund, install and operate the ADS-B network in the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter industry and platform operators will provide space on the appropriate offshore platforms for the installation of the ADS-B equipment, and helicopter transport of the required personnel to install and maintain the equipment. It is estimated that the in-kind value of services to be provided by the helicopter industry is in excess of $100 million. Mr. Zuccaro anticipates that the MOA will be finalized and signed within the next few weeks.
HAI and its members will continue to work with the FAA Air Traffic Surveillance and Broadcast Services Program Office, and FAA senior staff, through the final coordination and obtainment of funding required to develop, implement, and manage the ADS-B services in the Gulf of Mexico. Questions or comments on the Gulf of Mexico ADS-B initiative for low altitude helicopter operations may be directed to Marty Pociask, Director of Communications, at 703-683-4646.