Introduction

The William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) Enterprise Services Test & Evaluation (T&E) Division (ANG-E6) provides thorough T&E and Verification and Validation (V&V) services for systems and new capabilities in the communication, navigation, aeronautical information, flight service, and weather domains. The Division plays an integral role in the WJHTC's long-standing mission of testing and evaluating National Airspace System (NAS) systems and operational capabilities, helping to provide safe and reliable air travel. Through testing activities at the WJHTC's premier laboratories, the Division helps guide the continued evolution and modernization of the NAS, ensuring systems and capabilities are suitable and effective for operational use in the NAS.

Division Work

The Enterprise Services T&E Division performs testing, analysis, communications, navigation, aeronautical information, flight service automation, and weather systems and services. The Division's work verifies and validates that products and operational improvements (capabilities) meet specifications, satisfy requirements, and are operationally suitable and effective for use in the NAS.

The Division provides technical, engineering, and test support various programs throughout the Acquisition Management System (AMS) life cycle phases.

The Division monitors systems for compliance to technical performance specifications and operational suitability measures. Division personnel characterize current systems' performance and the effects proposed system changes would have on pilots, controllers, aircraft, and components. The Division also performs project initiation, planning, executing, monitoring, and reporting.

Branches

Air-to-Ground Communications (A/G Comm) Branch

The A/G Comm Branch provides high-quality T&E services and subject matter expertise for various areas of Voice and Data Communications including projects such as Next-Generation Very High Frequency (VHF) A/G Comm System (NEXCOM) radios (air to ground rack mount radios, emergency transceivers and maintenance communication transceivers), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) related testing, Radio Control Equipment (RCE) and Airport Cable Loop (ACL). The Branch develops automated and accredited testbeds and test tools when required for repeatable test cases; Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs); Operational Capabilities Test (OCT) test plans, procedures, and reports; and Operational Test (OT) plans, procedures, and reports. The Branch witnesses Developmental Test (DT) activities and conducts OCT and OT activities.

Navigation and Landing Branch

The Navigation and Landing Branch provides T&E, engineering, and modeling support to legacy and future ground-based navigation and landing programs. The Branch is also responsible for the developing and flight test validation of high-fidelity Navigation Aid (NAVAID) models and provides NAVAID simulation and analysis support to multiple navigation programs. The Branch developed and operates an integrated Navigation and Landing Test Facility used to support acquisition T&E, evaluate emerging NAVAID technologies, and support requirements validation.

Air Traffic Control Voice Communication Branch

The Air Traffic Control Voice Communication Branch provides T&E and engineering support services to legacy and future voice switching and recording programs. The Branch is primarily responsible for developing, coordinating, and conducting Operational Tests (OT) to validate the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Communications Enterprise (VoICE) operational requirements and validate VoICE operational suitability and effectiveness. The Branch develops Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs) and T&E requirements of the Implementation Strategy and Planning Document (ISPD).  The Branch also supports FAA oversight of contractor Developmental Testing as well as incremental FAA validation testing of VoICE requirements during the VoICE solution development.

Network Communications Branch

The Network Communications Branch provides T&E services and engineering support to current and next-generation ground-based communication systems. The Branch conducts most of its work in the System Wide Information Management (SWIM), National Airspace System (NAS) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Integration Test Bed, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Enterprise Network Services (FENS) and Bandwidth Manager, and NAS Defense Program Data Center laboratories. With various tools and communication networks hosted by these labs, the Branch supports testing and engineering activities for its projects and other organizations upon request.

Satellite Navigation Branch

The Satellite Navigation Branch performs T&E services for the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The team develops test tools to assist in performing T&E activities.

The primary function of the Branch is to conduct performance analysis of the Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM) and the WAAS. The WAAS is the FAA version of a Satellite-Based Augmentation System and Galileo is the European Union’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). This performance analysis is documented in real-time products and various reports. These products and reports are available at http://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/.

Aeronautical and Weather Services Verification Branch

The Aeronautical and Weather Services Verification Branch provides overall T&E leadership for traditional and service-oriented projects during FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) life cycle phases, beginning in Investment Analysis (IA), continuing through Solution Implementation (SI), and into the In-Service Management (ISM) phase, as required.

The Branch offers Development Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) leadership and expertise in planning, procedures, and execution. Additionally, the Branch provides T&E expertise in integration Risk Reduction (RR).