RICHMOND, British Columbia, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTNA; RTNB) has completed work on the Canadian Automated Air Traffic
System, known as CAATS, signaled by successful site acceptance testing.
Developed by the Richmond facility of Raytheon Systems Canada Ltd., CAATS sets
a new global standard in advanced air traffic management (ATM) by providing
air traffic controllers with a system that will help them meet the increasing
demands of air traffic.
The site acceptance testing -- the last phase required for the completion
of the contract with NAV CANADA -- achieved a pass rate of 99.9 percent and
was completed a month ahead of the contract date. Raytheon conducted the
tests at its facilities in Richmond, at the Technical Services Centre in
Ottawa, and at the NAV CANADA Area Control Centre in Edmonton.
The CAATS system consolidates all radar, flight data, weather and other
information on integrated, high-performance workstations, enabling controllers
to handle increased traffic levels more safely and efficiently. Other unique
features include graphically extrapolating flight positions for aircraft
operating outside of radar coverage, graphic route modification, and flexible
airspace management.
CAATS offers the controller the option of a paper-free environment and
very advanced functions such as 4-dimensional conflict probe and clearance
validation. It also automates flight data distribution between CAATS
installations and external systems, aiming to reduce the need for voice
communications between controllers and other agencies.
Lucinda Fleury, site executive/general manager of the Richmond facility,
said, "We believe this to be one of the most successful series of factory and
site acceptance tests ever conducted for a new, advanced air traffic
management system anywhere." Arthur Feist, CAATS program manager, added,
"Considering the broad range of capabilities provided by CAATS, the high pass
rate achieved during the site testing speaks for the quality of the system."
CAATS will preside over Canada's 5.8 million square miles of airspace and
will interface with virtually every other system used by controllers. "The
successful delivery of CAATS marks the beginning of a two-year implementation
process which will result in NAV CANADA controllers across the country having
the world's most advanced flight data processing system at their fingertips,"
said Sid Koslow, Vice President, Engineering, NAV CANADA.
The next step in the process will be to integrate the CAATS new radar
display family that has already been so well accepted by NAV CANADA
controllers into the CAATS product, Koslow said. This final software design
process, involving NAV CANADA engineers and front line staff, should take 8 to
10 months.
The CAATS project is the largest among a host of high-technology
initiatives that have put NAV CANADA in a global leadership position in air
navigation technology. Many of these initiatives have resulted in advanced,
electronic systems not available anywhere else, such as the new paperless air
traffic control tower in Toronto. "Successful delivery of CAATS gives a real
boost to our drive to be a world leader in safety, service, technology and
efficiency," Koslow said.
Raytheon is also developing the military elements of the system for the
Department of National Defense under the Military Automated Air Traffic System
program. It will provide a complete seamless integration of all civilian and
military ATM systems for Canada.
Raytheon Systems Canada Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon
Company. Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology
leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and
defense electronics and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon has
operations throughout the United States and serves customers in more than 70
countries.
NAV CANADA is the private, non-share capital corporation that owns and
operates Canada's civil air navigation service. With operations coast to
coast and in international airspace assigned to Canada, the company provides
air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, airport and
enroute advisory service, and electronic aids to navigation.
Raytheon Contact: NAV CANADA Contact:
Blanche E. Necessary (USA) John Morris
202-314-3780 Director, Communications
Adrienne White (Canada) 613-563-7032
604-821-5188 Media Line: 1-888-5NAVCAN
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Blanche E. Necessary (USA), 202-314-3780, or
Adrienne White (Canada), 604-821-5188, both of Raytheon Company;
or John Morris, Director, Communications, of NAV CANADA,
613-563-7032
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