Information Technology Pioneers
Retirees of UNISYS, Lockheed Martin, et al.
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Systems, Air Traffic Control (ATC)
1. Introduction
If you have flown any time since the early 60s, part of your flight has been under the control of a system developed by Remington Rand, UNIVAC, ...
 
These systems began with a file computer and associated software doing simple flight strips for air traffic controllers.  Then the first Automated Radar Terminal Control System (ARTS I) in Atlanta and the FAA test facility near Atlantic City NJ used 1218 computers designed for the Naval Tactical Data System to process radar signals.   

 On this page, scroll to:

  1.  Introduction
  2.  Genealogy of ATC Systems
  3.  ATC Technology Evolution
  4.  ATC Locations
  5.  ATC System Descriptions, documents, links, etc.

Introduction continued: The genealogy chart shows the relationships of ATC systems now in use throughout the world.  Much as NTDS provided baseline technology for ATC, the ATC technologies led to a Marine Corps Air Trafic Control And Landing System then the Air Sovereignty Operations Centers.  

 

Thanks to Tom Montgomery and his co-workers who provided the information and links for this Legacy page.   [lab]

2. Genealogy of ATC Systems

 

  

 Eagan ATC History supporting this chart is in a pdf file assembled by Tom Montgomery and his co-workers.

3. ATC Technology Evolution

Year DisplaysRadarsTracksNew or Enhanced CapabilitiesSites Note
1960    Data Entry, Automation of flight strip printing   
196512  2 100ASR Interface, Radar/Beacon Tracking, Flight Data Processing, TRACON Display, TTY Op. interface, Mil Hardware, Assembly language  2  
1970 15  2 150 FAA hardware, ARTCC Interface, Simulation, Nationwide implementation  64 
1975 20 2200 Lcl tower display, MSAW 164  
1980 30 2 600ASR/ARSR interface, Radar/Beacon tracking, Remote tower display, Improved recovery, Data recording, Target detection offload, Refresh offload, All-digital214  
1985 464  1,000 Conflict alert, Mosaic 220+ 
199061 15 2,850 Distributed system monitor, Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) hardware, C language, Distributed display processing, COTS operating system (OS), Local area network, Mode C Intruder, Distributed track processing, Distributed common processing 220+  
1995 92 15 6,000 TRACON Display, Graphic User Interface (GUI), distributed SMC, COTS hardware, ARTCC Interfaces, Lcl tower display, Remote tower display, Improved recovery, COTS operating system, Local area network, CRDA, Final monitor aid, Color raster displays  220+ 
2000 223 1510,000 ASR/ARSR interfaces, Radar/Beacon tracking, TRACON display, COTS hardware, Lcl tower display, Remote tower display, Improved recovery, Data recording, Mosaic, COTS OS, Local area network, Color raster displays, ADS-B Processing, Kalman Filter, Backchannel 175  
2005 300 15/4ADS11,400 ASR/ARSR interface, Radar/Beacon tracking, TRACON Display, GUI Distributed SMC, COTS Hardware, C/Java language, Lcl tower display, Remote tower display, Data recording, Mosiac, COTS OS, Local area network, Final monitor aid, Color raster displays, ADS-B processing, Kalman filter, Wx Radar Processing, Stand-alone towers 170  
2010      
    

4. ATC System Locations

This June 2005 chart locates the 139 US associated Operational Facilities. 

5. ATC System Descriptions, etc.

The photo at the right shows several aircraft on final approach - ATC systems provide the controllers with position information, flight number and aircraft type, recommend aircraft spacing, altitudes, and speeds as they near touchdown.  These systems also provide possible collision warnings. [lab]  

 

5.1 Software Information:

  Need inputs! 

5.2 Hardware Information:

 The initial ATC systems depended heavily upon hardware available from the NTDS production lines.  For your edification, Tom has assembled a set of ARTS I photos.

 

5.3 Documents Available to Peruse:

  • A 1963 article by Jay Rabb.
  •  
    The 1964 File Computer application description.
  • A 1964 article by Jay Rabb and Al Ridenour.
  • A 1967 article by Robert Anderson.
  • A 1971 Automated Air Traffic Control re-print by Jack Sater, et al.
  • A 1972 Air Traffic Control Experience re-print by R.J. Hansen.
  • A 1990 History of Terminal Automation by the ATC staff.

 

5.4 Links to associated sites:

These web sites also provide relevant information:
  

VIP Page 61 updated 20 January, 2010