Harris Corporation Researchers to Present Solutions on Next-Generation Aviation Weather Challenges at AMS 2010

ATLANTA, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (AMS, Booth #524) – On January 20, Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) meteorologists will present papers that discuss new approaches to integrating weather information into the Next Generation Air Transportation System.  The discussions will take place at the 90th American Meteorological Society (AMS) conference held January 17-21 in the Georgia World Congress Center.

These papers will be given during the Aviation, Range and Aerospace Conference session titled "Weather Information Users: The Next-Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Part 2."  NextGen is a wide-ranging transformation of the entire national air transportation system to meet future demands and avoid gridlock in the sky and in airports.

• At 11:30 a.m., Harris systems engineer and meteorologist Russ Sinclair will present "An Example of NextGen Weather Information Integration and Management."  This paper describes experiences with a Harris-developed Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)-based information management model, in which existing weather and decision-support applications were converted to SOA services and operated in a NextGen-like SOA environment.  Lessons learned using this model will make it easier for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to integrate the most advanced weather information into NextGen.

• At 11:45 a.m., Harris systems engineer and meteorologist Tom Hicks will present "Automated Weather Avoidance Service (AWAS) for Four-Dimensional Flight Trajectories."  This paper focuses on how the new Harris AWAS addresses a core, weather-related functional requirement of NextGen: the identification of where and when aircraft can or cannot safely fly.  AWAS is focused on enabling better decision-making with regard to weather and flight trajectories.  Using a four-dimensional trajectory (4DT) – a precise description of an aircraft's position in both space and time, a weather service constantly evaluates each 4DT with respect to forecasts for thunderstorms, turbulence, icing, ceiling and visibility.  Grid technologies are used to provide high-performance and high-availability processing.

Harris has a long history of developing and integrating system solutions for the FAA and the global air traffic control network.  In addition to its work as prime contractor and system architect on the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure program, other FAA programs developed by Harris include:

• Weather And Radar Processor, a weather system serving en-route air traffic control.
• OASIS, which provides integrated weather briefing and flight planning capabilities for preflight weather briefings and in-flight updates.
• Voice Switching and Control System, which provides the critical air-to-ground communications links between en-route aircraft and air traffic controllers throughout the continental U.S.
• Satellite-based Alaskan NAS Interfacility Communications System.

The Harris Civil Programs business unit provides highly reliable, mission-critical communications and information processing systems that meet the most demanding needs of customers in the U.S. civilian federal marketplace.  Customers include the FAA, Census Bureau, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Health and Human Services and the Government Printing Office.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets worldwide.  Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and more than 15,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists.  Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services.  Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com

SOURCE Harris Corporation