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Airfield Control Tower Upgrade Underway

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100306-15
Release Date: 3/6/2010 12:06:00 PM

By Clark Pierce, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Air traffic controllers assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville Air Operations (Air Ops) Department are working from temporary facilities as their control tower and radar room – originally built in the 1940s – undergo structural upgrades to house new digital tracking and communications equipment.

According to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Project Manager Amy Hoffer, the project is driven by the National Airspace System Modernization (NASMod) program, a joint Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) effort to modernize the nation's air traffic control (ATC) systems.

"NASMod will replace aging ATC analog systems with new systems to include a new digital airport surveillance radar, a new software-driven air traffic controller display system designated the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS), and the Navy unique information management system designated the Video Information Display System," explained NAS Jacksonville Air Ops Tower Branch Chief Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Dale Ackley.

Soon to be the norm at all shore-based Navy and Marine Corps approach control facilities, STARS will include aircraft status and flight plan information, plus, surveillance position information, sensor identification, aircraft beacon code, filters, altitude, maps, range marks and weather information.

"There's a great deal of site work to be done in the tower and the radar room before the NASMod equipment can be installed," said Hoffer. "In addition to asbestos and lead-based paint remediation, there will be upgraded electrical circuits, a new roof, energy efficient tower glass, HVAC system, fire suppression system, restrooms, as well as interior upgrades and new cabinets for the digital equipment."

The NASMod system for the tower and radar room is scheduled to go live in October. In the meantime, controllers work from the temporary tower that is 69 feet lower than the original.

"Instead of our usual four controllers on duty, we only have room for three in the temporary tower," said Ackley. "But we're willing to adapt and operate in a more expeditionary environment in order to support the tower renovation and installation of the new NASMod system."

In the Air Ops radar room, a crew of five air traffic controllers monitors aircraft within 60 miles of NAS Jacksonville.

"Every plane in the air is assigned a four-digit code by the FAA Jacksonville Center in Hilliard, Fla. that displays the aircraft's call sign, altitude and destination," said Ackley. "Just like the tower, all our analog radar equipment will be replaced with digital gear. When it's time for workers to convert this space for the NASMod upgrade, we'll seamlessly relocate to an adjacent temporary structure."

The temporary ATC tower is provided by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic Aviation Command and Control Engineering Division, the Navy's lead field activity for the NASMod program.