"The Volpe Center is responsible for development and daily operation of the Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS), which is used by FAA to support its Traffic Flow Management mission. ETMS integrates real-time flight and weather data from multiple sources, presenting information graphically in a highly adaptable format, enabling more efficient, predictable, and equitable management of air traffic in congested airspace. The spring release introduces a new traffic management tool, the Airspace Flow Program, which targets delays to those flights whose flight paths traverse airspace impacted by severe weather. Pictured: A screen shot of the Airspace Flow Program in use."

On June 5, in support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Volpe Center deployed the Spring 2006 release of the Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS), Version 8.2, to 80 FAA sites. The main new component of ETMS 8.2 is the Airspace Flow Program, a traffic management tool designed to help reduce delays in the air traffic system.

The Airspace Flow Program will combine the power of existing Traffic Flow Management capabilities, including Ground Delay Programs and Flow Constrained Areas, to allow for more efficient, predictable, and equitable management of the National Airspace System. The Airspace Flow Program targets delays to those flights whose flight paths traverse airspace impacted by severe weather. Flights that do not traverse the path of severe weather are not delayed.

ETMS is a mission-essential system used by FAA to support its Traffic Flow Management mission and increase air system capacity. ETMS is used to track, predict, and plan air traffic flow; analyze effects of ground delays; and evaluate alternative routing strategies. The Volpe Center is responsible for development and daily operation of ETMS. As its successful history has shown, ETMS continues to evolve and provide new capabilities to air traffic managers, facilitating a common air traffic situational awareness that makes possible collaborative decision making among FAA, air carriers, and military operations. (Added 06/27/06)