Past event: NEXTGEN AHEAD

DAY ONE – Monday, September 9, 2013

12:00 p.m.

Registration Opens

1:00 p.m.

Interactive Workshops A:

A-1. GPS Interference & Security

With wider usage of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, so have increased reports of signal interference and jamming, regardless of ill intent or not.  Because GPS is a key element of air traffic modernization, the vulnerability of GPS networks must be protected.  This workshop will delve into:  

§  Frequency interruptions (jamming, spoofing, rebroadcasting) and weak bandwidth strength

§  Security concerns and present mitigation strategies on deliberate interference

§  What are potential back-up systems for the GPS constellation, and are they adequate for NextGen?

§  Captain Joe Burns, Managing Director, Technology and Flight Test, United Airlines

A-2.  Finding the Balance on Mixed Equipage

To successfully maximize NextGen, the there must be a critical mass of required equipage that has seamlessly integrated the range of avionics for communication, navigation, and surveillance.  However, there continues to be challenges and hindrances as the dynamics of aircraft mixed equipage continue to shift. Even when aircraft have similar capabilities, differences in operational approvals (RNP AR, RNAV Visuals, etc.) make flights appear dissimilar.

§  How much can be done with mixed equipage? Does it hinder benefits and progress?

§  Regional Partnerships- challenges, collaborations and opportunities?

§  What are strategies to overcome challenges in integrating the automation process and support tools?

§  How is FAA working with stakeholders during the transitional period of mixed equipage? What’s wrong with ‘best equipped, best served’?

§  Moderator: Gary Church, President, Aviation Management Associates

§  David Newton, Sr. Manager, NextGen / Airspace, Southwest Airlines

§  Melissa Rudinger, SVP Government Affairs, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA)

§  Hassan Shahidi, Director for System Operations, Safety, and Performance, MITRE’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD)

2:30 p.m.

Break

3:00 p.m.

Interactive Workshops B:

B-1. Changing Roles of NextGen Funding & Financing

With sequestration in full effect, traditional funding and financing options will have to be changed drastically for the continuation of NextGen programs. The “what” has been determined, the next question is “how” on the dramatic cause of cost on equipage and implementation. In the rationalization of NG capital investments, which are more constrained than others? What are updates on the opportunities and challenges of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), as well as alternative FAA funding strategies?

§  Workshop Leader: Russell Chew, Managing Partner, NEXA Capital Partners

§  Paul Cassel, SVP Flight Operations, FedEx Express

§  Jeff Martin, SVP Operations, JetBlue Airways

§  Jim Ziglar, Jr., SVP Infrastructure Advisory, Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC

B-2. Tablets in the Cockpit

If you’re ready to ride the “tablet” wave to improve productivity, then the rationale for this technology investment must clearly reflect cost-value benefits, as well as the strategies for implementation and integration carefully evaluated and designed.

§  Latest in regulatory considerations, such as FAA certifications and compliance issues.

§  What are potential implications of tablets and modern technologies in the cockpit?

§  Latest in regulatory considerations, such as FAA certifications and compliance issues

§  How can tablet capabilities be maximized and ensured that the end-user gets the right information (weather, runway updates, airport situations, etc) at the right time for real-time intelligence?

§  What are technological outsourcing options to support tablet projects and integrations?

§  Workshop Leader: John Badger, Director, Customer Engagement, InfoTrust Group

§  Adam Evanschwartz, Director, Flight Services Marketing, Rockwell Collins

§  Brian Hint, Future Flight Technologies Branch, AFS-430, FAA Flight Standards Service

§  Josh Kendrick, Managing Director, Flight Technology and Regulatory Compliance, FedEx Express

4:30 p.m.

Workshops Conclude

5:30 p.m.

Conclusion of Day One

DAY TWO – Tuesday, September 10, 2013

8:00 a.m.

Networking Breakfast
Registration Opens

8:30 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

8:45 a.m.

Opening Address

§  Michael G. Whitaker, Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer, FAA

9:00 a.m.

Keynote Address

§  Rob Maruster, COO, JetBlue Airways

9:30a.m.

The Realistic Landscape of NextGen

§  Moderator: John Croft, Avionics & Safety Editor, Aviation Week

§  Gerald L.  Dillingham, Director, Civil Aviation Issues, US Government Accountability Office

10:15 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.

Where is NextGen in the Fiscal Budget?

Now that sequestration has become a reality, where does NextGen fit into the bigger picture, from a national effort? What are the short-term outcomes and benefits?  What will the priorities be in the next 3-5 years? What are the winning capabilities, and which are the losing programs? How will the Hill prioritize air transportation modernization within the fiscal budget?

§  Moderator: Robert Poole, Director, Transportation Policy, Reason Foundation

§  Matthew Hampton, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Aviation & Special Programs, US Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General

§  Dr. Stephen Van Beek, Executive Director, Policy and Strategy, LeighFisher

11:15 a.m.

The International Aspect: Thinking Globally, Planning Regionally and Acting Locally

How does the progress of US air traffic modernization program compare with other regions?  Which regional planning forums are making a difference, and why? What is the importance of globally-agreed metrics? ICAO will provide a summary of known international ATM improvement programs in progress, as well as a status report on the global implementation of Aviation System Block Upgrade (ASBU) Block 1, its standards development and next steps.

§  Nancy Graham, Director, Air Navigation Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

11:40 a.m.

RTCA Update

§  Margaret Jenny, President, RTCA

12:00 p.m.  

Lunch

Aviation Week & Space Technology Distinguished Service Award

Presentation by the Flight Safety Foundation

This award is administered by the Flight Safety Foundation and has been presented since 1949 for “distinguished service in achieving safer utilization of aircraft.”

§  Award Presenter: Flight Safety Foundation

2:00 p.m.

NextGen Dashboard – What are the Metrics Telling Us?

FAA, partnered with MITRE, developed the NextGen Dashboard to provide a transparent analysis of necessary data for recommendations, prioritization, and assessments on NextGen capabilities. Hear the latest results of the dashboard. What conclusions are coming from the collected data?  What are past conclusions, and how have they shaped current considerations and decisions? What measurable benefits have been achieved?

§  Deborah Kirkman, Architect for NAS Performance and Policy, MITRE

2:45 p.m.

Collaboration/Communication between Ground and Air

With the full integration of the air traffic system, including cockpit and ground automation, what factors must be considered to develop efficient procedures?  Current existing NextGen procedures are in place but not being fully utilized.  What are the pitfalls and challenges on ground-air communication and collaboration, and how can they be overcome? What are latest developments in air-ground automation integrated concepts?

§  Dr. Chip Meserole, Director, Advanced ATM, Boeing

§  Dr. Laurence Mutuel, Senior Project Engineer, Thales Avionics

3:30 p.m.

Break

4:00 p.m.

Updates on Optimization of the Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM)

With more “active” metroplex areas, such as Houston, LA and San Francisco, what are the challenges and hurdles on connectivity between these regions? What are the deliberations on incorporating approved NextGen procedures and programs, such as SWIM and Reduced Separation Criteria/Management?  Hear the latest on lessons learned, strategies, progress, and future plans on metroplex efforts.

§  Captain Brian Will, Director Airspace Modernization and Advanced Technologies, American Airlines

§  Jeff Woods, Nationals OAPM Study Team Lead, NATCA

4:45 p.m.

Closing Keynote Panel – FAA

Back by popular demand, a distinguished panel of FAA executives candidly discusses the ability of FAA to adapt and support in the new budget environment for FY2013-2014.  These key speakers provide a comprehensive perspective on priorities, programs and going-forward initiatives.

5:30 p.m. 

Cocktail & Networking Reception

6:30 p.m. 

   Close of Day Two

DAY THREE – Wednesday, September 11, 2013

8:00 a.m.

Registration Opens

Networking Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

Concurrent Discussions:

These sessions are designed for executives to discover creative concepts, and stimulate discussions to challenge all stakeholders, public and private, in moving NextGen forward.  Each session will begin with a realistic updates featuring quantitative data and latest metrics on procedures/programs.  Discussions will focus on pertinent issues, as well as innovative and different approaches to leveraging existing processes.

C-1. ADS-B

§  ADS-B Out is equipped and supported.  How do we move forward with ADS-B In?

§  Updates and considerations from the latest ADSB-In ARC.

§  What are the forthcoming capabilities that will leverage existing technology and infrastructure enablers, and how will they drive operational change?

§  ADS-B Standards - system capabilities, requirements and potentiality.

§  Progress on oceanic and ITP (In-Trail Procedures) projects.

§  Impact of international mandates.

§  Increasing utilization - fostering open communication, lessons learned.   

§  Joe Bertapelle, Director, System Operation, JetBlue Airways

§  John Kefaliotis, VP NextGen Transportation Systems, Exelis

§  Ron Thomas, Director, Flight Technologies, US Airways

C-2. PBN

§  Analysis/breakdown of current regulations, approvals and trials.

§  What are the plans and considerations for next steps?

§  Factors that are hindering progress, especially with RNP. What are the non-technical barriers?  Potential solutions?

§  Maximizing on utilization.

9:30 a.m.

Break

9:45 a.m.

Concurrent Discussions:

D-1. Data-Comm

With the Data Communications Integrated Services (DCIS) contract awarded and the Memphis trial started earlier this year, how will the Data-Comm program change the operational landscape?

§  Program status report, including initial trial findings, roadmap for future projects.

§  Effect on existing flight procedures and avionics configurations.

§  Strategies and designs for data management, accessibility and exchange.

§  Impact of DataComm timeline on TBO and FANS infrastructure.

§  Defining the benefits of Data-Comm - what will be the applications and developing capabilities once the program is complete?

§  Chris Sutherland, Senior Program Manager, Air Traffic Management, Harris Corporation

D-2. Environmental Impact on NextGen

Although it is known that NextGen initiatives are significant to reducing emissions, communities near airports are concerned by increased levels of aircraft noise.  These issues are impeding abilities to implement NextGen operational procedures, such as PBN.  This barrier was not part of the original implementation plan, and as the first checkpoint in the FAA NextGen Implementation Plan is approaching, how are these un-foreseen obstacles changing the progress?

§  State of industry acceptance and participation,

§  Lessons learned from previous regions.

§  Approaches to address current and future issues.

§  Recommendations from RTCA CatEx 2 Task Group on streamlined environmental review process.

§  Bruno Miller, Principal Environmental Analyst, Metron Aviation

§  Katherine Preston, Director, Environmental Affairs, Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA)

§  Nancy Young, VP Environmental Affairs, Airlines for America

10:45 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.

Concurrent Discussions:

E-1. UAS Integration & Implications

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) integration presents a unique challenge to the National Airspace System (NAS), as these vehicles are being incorporated during the transition to a GPS-based system in NextGen.

§  Updates from FAA UAS Integration office on testing, certifications, requirements and more.

§  Operational specifications and technology considerations.

§  Issues and opportunities of UAS in commercial airspace.

§  Privacy concerns associated with UAS utilization.

§  Cyber-security.

§  Session Leader: Gene Hayman, VP Space & Aviation, L-3 STRATIS

§  Gary Church, President, Aviation Management Associates

§  Rob Levinson, Senior Defense Analyst, Bloomberg

§  Steven Pennington, Director, Bases, Ranges, and Airspace, US Air Force

§  Dr. Edgar G. Waggoner, Director, Integrated Systems Research Program, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA

E-2. SAT-COMM

Satellite-based voice and data communication tools are being equipped on aircraft at increased rates to prepare for the launch of Iridium NEXT satellites.   Driven by developing commercial satellite broadband capability, VOIP, ATC consolidation desires, how will advanced ATC voice and data communications be defined?

§  Updates on technology advancements, configurations and capabilities.

§  Implications on security and compliance.

§  Outlook and roadmap on space-based ADS-B in oceanic routes and remote regions.

§  Overview on operational use, benefits, mandates and integration.

§  Preventive measures for vulnerabilities (access, IP, etc.).

§  Om Gupta, VP Strategic Programs, Aireon LLC

12:00 p.m.

2013 NextGen Ahead conference concludes