• Information Resources
  • Volpe Library
  • Volpe Journal
  • Volpe Highlights
  • Points of Pride
  • Bibliographies

Volpe Center Highlights - March 1999

Economic Growth and Trade

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade | National Security | Published and Presented

Advance America's economic growth and competitiveness domestically and internationally through efficient and flexible transportation.

Volpe Verifies FAA Communications System is Y2K Compliant (FAA)

The Volpe Center's Telecommunications Division provides systems development and infrastructure support to the FAA's Telecommunication Information Management System (TIMS) program. TIMS is a central repository of information on the FAA's communications circuits and equipment that allows FAA personnel to collect, organize, and report telecommunications equipment information more effectively. Since TIMS has been designated by the FAA as a mission-critical system, the Volpe Center's Y2K compliance activity has been under intense scrutiny. After successfully completing a series of validations and certification tests, the Center has entered the final phase of the TIMS Y2K compliance effortdeploying the renovated TIMS system to the field. In order to meet the FAA's accelerated target date (recently moved from April 30th to March 31st, 1999), the Volpe Center sent three parallel teams of Federal and contractor staff to perform system installation and testing at the nine FAA regions, FAA Headquarters, the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, and the FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Although the teams encountered numerous problems including weather delays, software bugs, coordination and scheduling difficulties, all aspects of the project were eventually completed successfully, assuring that the deployed TIMS system is now fully Y2K compliant.

Volpe Center Hosts Aviation Modeling and Simulation Workshop

Under the direction of Mr. Robert Wiseman, Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Division, the Volpe Center hosted the "Aviation Modeling and Simulation Needs and Requirements Workshop." Over forty invited guests, including recognized experts from the Department of Defense, the FAA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and academia attended. The objectives of the workshop were to address modeling and simulation compatibility and integration capabilities issues as well as to identify tools that could give decision makers insight into the capacity, safety, and environmental and economic consequences of alternative air transportation futures. The workshop consisted of a series of briefings and facilitated discussions that identified the requirements for models and simulations and their strengths and weaknesses. There was full agreement at the workshop that the most important purpose of analysis, modeling, and simulation was to serve as a knowledge base for high level policy evaluations for decision-makers.

Return to Top