Senator Murray Announces Air Traffic Modernization Contract for Boeing

Earlier this year, Senator Murray visited Boeing and talked to the workers who are working on this project.

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has followed through with her plans to put the Boeing Company in the forefront of the next generation of air traffic control by awarding the company a $13 million contract to advance the agency’s cutting edge air traffic modernization effort. Phase II of the Global Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance System (GCNSS) contract could lead to as much as $23.2 million for the Boeing Company.

“The FAA’s announcement today is another step toward ensuring that the United States continues to be the world leader in air traffic control. Satellite-based systems are the future of aviation and the FAA’s decision today demonstrates that the Boeing Company and Puget Sound will be at the heart of that future,” Murray said. “This not only means jobs for our men and women but demonstrates that Boeing continues to be at the forefront of aviation technology.”

Senator Murray announced that the Boeing Company was selected by the FAA through a competitive process for the second phase of a program to move the air traffic control system to a global network-enabled system. The second phase of the project will focus on development of a System Wide Information Management system that would enable the ATM system to be safer, more secure and more efficient with real time information sharing and decision making. The Boeing Company was previously awarded a $25 million contract in 2002 for the first phase of this project.

“GCNSS is a fundamental building block in transforming the current air traffic control system into the network-centric system of the future,” said Kevin Brown, vice president, Advanced Air Traffic Management Systems at Phantom Works. “I want to salute Senator Murray for her leadership in recognizing the need for this transformation and for providing funding for this critical program.”

Senator Murray secured the funding for the air traffic modernization project in two funding bills through her position on the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. The first $25 million was secured in Fiscal Year 2002 and the second phase of $20 million was included in the Fiscal Year 2004 transportation appropriations bill.

“We believe that GCNSS is of strategic importance to the nation and to the Boeing Company,” said Dave Jones, Boeing program manager for GCNSS, “particularly at a time when the nation’s air traffic system is again facing the crippling impact of congestion and delays.”