Oceanic Integration and Interoperability Facility - Capabilities
Operational Capabilities
The Oceanic Integration and Interoperability Facility (OIIF) is a fully functional, self-sustaining facility. The purpose of OIIF is to carry out Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP), an innovate set of processes that:
- Fully integrates flight and radar data processing
- Detects conflicts between aircraft
- Provides satellite data link communication and surveillance capabilities
- Removes the need for paper flight strips
- Automates the manual processes used today
The OIIF lab is equivalent to the ATOP facilities found at each of the three Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) that monitor and control air traffic over the oceans. Unlike other Air Traffic Control laboratories that must maintain a rigid baseline, the OIIF is easily reconfigurable to support user requirements. This flexibility enables the integration of new systems and prototypes into the OIIF NAS subsystems using hardware and/or software modifications. The OIIF can conduct stand-alone experiments. It is also interconnected to laboratory facilities located within the Technical Center, enabling both large-scale and inter-domain experimentation.
A fully functional ATOP configuration includes:
- 12 full sectors
- 2 Full Channels
- 4 maintenance and control consoles
- 2 supervisor positions
- 2 flight data repair positions
- 2 pilot positions
- Complete primary and backup channels
- Complete operational support network
External Interfaces both live and simulated included:
- Radar Surveillance systems (land based where available)
- Weather Information Network Server (WINS)
- Weather and Radar Processor
- Coded Time Source (CTS)
- Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) Air/Ground System (AGS)
- Host Computer System
- Offshore Flight Data Processing System
- Enhanced Traffic Management System
- North American Aerospace Defense Command
- National Airspace Data Interchange Network Message Switching Network
- Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR)
- Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques Future Air Navigation System Router
- Micro En Route Automated Radar Tracking System
The OIIF lab can be configured as:
- A full dual-channel Oceanic ARTCCs with redundant ATOP processors
- Two independent single-channel Oceanic ARTCCs with and without redundant ATOP processors
- Individual stand-alone ATOP processor simulating an Oceanic ARTCCs
Operational Capabilities
The OIIF offers various simulation capabilities with site adaptations for any of the three Oceanic ARTCCs (New York – ZNY, Oakland – ZOA, Anchorage – ZAN). Air traffic scenarios can be designed from recorded air traffic from the facilities or developed solely from the customer's situational requirements using design tools. The developed simulations can be completely automated or include all controller and pilot interaction. Flight data and controller metrics can be recorded for playback and further analysis using offline Data Reduction & Analysis tools.
External interface messages to the ATOP External Communication System (ECS) can be simulated through the use of the External Interface Test Tool. The external simulated messages include:
- NAS Interfacility
- Radar Surveillance
- Air Traffic Services Interfacility Data Communications
- WMSCR
- ARINC AGS
- High Frequency Radio Operator
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Contract
- Controller /Pilot Data Link Communication
- WINS
- Weather and Radar processor
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast
The OIIF ECS also connects to a Bytex switch to provide live radar, interfacility interfaces, and live interfaces listed above.