FAA History Lesson -- September 30

From the FAA Historical Chronology, 1926-1996...

”Sep 30, 1983: During the fiscal year that ended on this date, key equipment was installed for the National Airspace Data Exchange Network (NADIN), a new interfacility communication system being established under a contract awarded in 1980. Under the NADIN system, messages originating at an air traffic control facility would go to the nearest of some 20 regional concentrators (computerized communication equipment sites). The message would then go to one of two major switching centers, located at Atlanta and Salt Lake City. These switches would disseminate the data, bypassing failed or saturated areas when required. Each switch would handle messages for half the country, but would possess the ability to manage the entire system if necessary. During FY 1982, the first of the switches was installed at Salt Lake City, and the first of the concentrators was installed at the FAA Technical Center. The Atlanta switch and the remaining 20 concentrators were installed in FY 1983, moving NADIN closer to commissioning. (See May 5, 1989.) ”

” May 5, 1989: FAA’s National Data Interchange Network 1A (NADIN 1A) became fully operational, supplanting several independent communications networks with a single, efficient means of transmitting weather and flight plan data. The agency had originally contracted for the system in Nov 1980. On Mar 31, 1995, FAA commissioned an upgraded version designated NADIN II. “

It’s late so you’ll have to do your own analysis. “Fiscal year”, “manage the entire system if necessary”, look at the dates, etc., etc. Yes, this is the same system that broke and caused the widespread delays earlier this year.

Don Brown
September 30, 2007