Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center

The Anchorage ARTCC has control responsibility for more than 2,500,000 square nautical miles (8,600,000 km2) of airspace divided between three areas of specialization and 15 sectors.

The facility also makes use of other technology systems such as FDP2000, DOTS+, ANICS, ADS-B, ADS-C and Wide area multilateration (WAM).

The added capabilities include winds aloft modeling for improved aircraft position extrapolation accuracy, and support of Air Traffic Services Inter-facility Data Communications Systems (AIDC) ground-to-ground data link with compatible Flight Information Regions (FIRs).

[4] The Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) program replaced oceanic air traffic control systems and procedures and modernized the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) facilities at Oakland, New York, and Anchorage.

ATOP achieved full operating capability (FOC) at the New York, Oakland, and Anchorage ARTCCs in March 2005, October 2005, and April 2007, respectively.

The present contract has provisions for technology refresh in FY 2008 to initiate ATOP hardware technology refresh at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) and Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).

The DOTS, upgraded and frequently referred to as "DOTS +", permits airlines to save fuel by flying random routes, in contrast to structured routes, and permits the air traffic controller to achieve lateral spacing requirements more efficiently.

Flexible tracks are updated twice a day using forecasted winds aloft and separation (vertical and lateral) requirements.

These external data exchanges are achieved through interfaces with the National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN) Packet Switch Network (PSN) for Position Reports, Air Traffic Management (ATM) messages, Pilot Reports (PIREPS), and the Anchorage FDP2000.

The weather data is then distributed to the ARTCCs via commercially provided Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) telephone lines.

These access circuits may be implemented by a copper or fiber optic cable, microwave radio, or leased services.

Additional Information: http://download.harris.com/app/public_download.asp?fid=416[permanent dead link‍] [8] Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control was the first facility in the world to begin using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS) for air traffic control separation services using a 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) separation standard.

Nine ADS-B enabled applications will be developed and assessed: (1) ATC Surveillance, (2) Enhanced Visual Acquisition, (3) Enhanced Visual Approach, (4) Final Approach and Runway Occupancy Awareness, (5) Airport Surface Situational Awareness, (6) Conflict Detection for flight and Air Traffic Management (ATM) operations, (7) CDTI/MFD Assisted Visual Separation (CAVS), (8) Interval Management (e.g., merging and spacing) and (9) Weather and NAS Status Situational Awareness.

Certify ADS-B as an approved surveillance source to support existing separation standards on five FAA automation platforms - ERAM, HOST, MEARTS, STARS, and CARTS 3.

Achieve early benefits in non-radar airspace ADS-B critical services (ADS-B downlink to ATC for separation) will be implemented at four key sites (service volumes): the Gulf of Mexico; Louisville, KY - Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and UPS GOC; Philadelphia, PA - TRACON; and Alaska Anchorage Center and Juneau Air Traffic Control Tower.