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Volpe Center Highlights - October 1999Economic Growth and TradeDirector's Notes |
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Safety |
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Human and Natural Environment |
Volpe Center Divisions Combine Data Gathering and Distribution Expertise to Address Airline Delays (FAA) Two Volpe Center divisions are partnering to combine two areas of expertise and provide synergistic benefits for two different FAA organizations. On September 23, Volpe Center staff from both the Surveillance and Sensors Division and the Automation Applications Division met with Ms. Deborah Lucas, the FAA's Navigation and Landing Project Manager, and Mr. Michael McKinney of the FAA's Technical Center. The Surveillance and Sensors Division focused on how Runway Visual Range (RVR) data can be gathered at the Center from the 30 largest FAA Terminal Radar Control facilities. The Automation Applications Division area advised on using the TMS and sending the data to the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) in Herndon, Virginia, and the airlines. RVR technology provides early indicators of changing weather conditions on active runways at airports. As part of the Volpe Center's work on the Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) program for the FAA's Free Flight Phase 1 Program Office, the RVR data will be distributed to the ATCSCC and the airlines via the CDM Web server at the Center. The RVR data will help an expanded FAA community and the airlines to reduce delays through better flight planning enabled by more advance notice of changing weather conditions. The Volpe Center is a major contributor to the CDM program between the FAA and the airlines. The program is one way that enhancements are identified for the FAA's TMS. Volpe Center Staff Attend and Exhibit at New England Minority Enterprise Development Conference (OST) On September 13, Ms. Lynn Murray, Mr. Joseph Henebury, and Ms. Mary Vitiello of the Volpe Center attended the New England Minority Enterprise Development Conference in Boston. In addition, the Volpe Center featured an exhibit that presented information on contracting opportunities at DOT with a special emphasis on programs for small and disadvantaged businesses. The purpose of the conference was to highlight achievements of the members of the NE Minority Enterprise Development organization. The organization, founded 30 years ago, fosters the belief that economic success remains integral to social progress. Ms. Luz Hopewell, Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSBDU), U.S. Department of Transportation was a featured speaker in addition to OSBDU directors from the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and the Environmental Protection Agency. At the luncheon that followed, awards were conferred upon outstanding minority business owners by Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci and Congressman Michael Capuano. Tour of the Japanese Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Test Sites During her visit to Japan in late August, Dr. Aviva Brecher of the Transportation Strategic Planning and Analysis Office was invited to tour the maglev test facilities for both the urban maglev and high-speed maglev to assess the technical feasibility and applicability to U.S. rail. In Nagoya, Dr. Brecher observed and rode the Chubu HSST-100, an electromagnetically linear motor car designed for speeds up to 100 km/h. This maglev motor car has been tested at several world Expos, and is being considered for applications in Japan, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. In Yamanashi, Dr. Brecher toured the museum and control room and observed high-speed runs (about 450 km/h) of the MLX superconducting maglev prototype on an 18.6-km priority test track managed by the Central Japan Railroad. The track includes low- and high-speed switches, tunnels, steep grades, and curves. Dr. Brecher visited the Railway Technology Research Institute where she toured laboratories, attended technical and project status briefings, and obtained recent literature and videos (available upon request). An additional highlight was riding across Japan on the Shinkansen and several other types of electric trains, and enjoying a uniformly high level of service, comfort, and on-time performance.
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