Sender: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 17:48:06 -0500
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From: "Ron Galbraith" <cfi@instructor.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: VFR for flight testing

<DIV>&gt;It always seemed to me that the enroute "controllers" could care l=
ess about what equipment one uses to get from point A to point B just as lo=
ng as one stays on the airway &gt;or, these days, stays generally on the co=
urse line to "B" (NE Blue States' &nbsp;Iron Fist Air Management notwithsta=
nding).&nbsp; It also seems that a few years back the enroute folks &gt;did=
n't have access to waypoints outside their "region"&nbsp;and needed more in=
fo, such as Magnetic (12th century device) Heading and&nbsp;distance - givi=
ng a position report of 620 &gt;NM ENE of Las Cruces was generally not well=
 received.&nbsp; These days it would appear that everyone knows where the f=
light is going, even if it is 800&nbsp;NM that-a-way...&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&gt;It is nice to see that the FAA has finally moved forward off of th=
e IBM 7090 computers - a computer&nbsp;that I wrote programs for back in 19=
62. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>If you haven't been to a ARTCC in the past say 8-10 years, then you wo=
uld be in for a big shock.&nbsp; Our equipment is actually state of the art=
, unfortuneately we are still using some of that same code that you wrote w=
ay back then.&nbsp;&nbsp; We are scheduled to get all new software to run t=
hings within the next 5 years (only about 15 years too late).&nbsp; As far =
as us careing how you get from point A to point B, you are correct, we don'=
t care what equipment you have.&nbsp; Most of the VFR flight following we g=
ive are to aircraft with GPS, even if it's a hand held.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our lat=
est system in the ARTCC is called URET (User Request Evaluation Tool), whic=
h also replaces the paper flight progress strips, so we now have a 20" lcd =
monitor that has all the flight plan info on all airplanes in the sector, a=
nd is kept up to date automatically.&nbsp;&nbsp; One really nice thing abou=
t the URET system is that it knows every fix/airport/navaid in the entire U=
S, and many out of the US.&nbsp;&nbsp; It uses the Jeppesen data base, so i=
f it's in there, we know where it is.&nbsp; If you are going from COS to AB=
Q via a direct route, and tell me you are 245 miles NE of ABQ, that works f=
or me.&nbsp;&nbsp; The URET system also has a conflict probe, that is alway=
s searching ahead for 20 minutes to help the controller detect conflicts ev=
en before the airplanes are in the sector.&nbsp; It&nbsp;is also&nbsp;probi=
ng for MOA's restricted areas, and knows your descent or climb profile and =
takes that into consideration(knowing the type of aircraft).&nbsp;&nbsp; Th=
is system has reduced the controller workload quite a bit now that we don't=
 have to constantly write on the flight progress strips anymore.&nbsp;&nbsp=
; We also have NEXRAD color radar display right on the scope now too, so we=
 might actually be able to help you avoid some of those nasty thunderstorms=
 that we couldn't before.&nbsp;&nbsp; I know there are a bunch of you out t=
here who would be interested in a tour of an ARTCC facility, so if there is=
 enough interest you could all fly here and have a fly-in/tour.&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp; You could bring your favorite sanding block, and we could have a san=
ding party too.&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm in Longmont, Colorado by the way.&nbsp; </D=
IV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Ron Galbraith</DIV>
<DIV>LNCE-N5ES&nbsp; </DIV>
<DIV>(hoping elves swarm my hanger over the holiday to surprise me)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><BR>
--=20
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