Capstone Project, 1999 to 2006

The Capstone Project was a joint industry and FAA research and development effort to improve aviation safety and efficiency in Alaska. Under Capstone, the FAA provided avionics equipment for aircraft and the supporting ground infrastructure. The Capstone Project operated from 1999 to 2006, and its success in Alaska laid the groundwork for the nationwide deployment of ADS-B.

In December 2006, the FAA announced that it would integrate Capstone into the FAA’s Surveillance and Broadcast Services (SBS) program office tasked with implementing ADS-B across the national airspace system. The consolidation was intended to streamline national ADS-B activities and make them more cost-effective. It was also intended to accrue safety benefits for Alaska more quickly by accelerating the deployment of ADS-B technologies. The integration took place in January 2007.

Currently in Alaska, over 40 ADS-B ground stations provide surveillance coverage. The SBS team is working with the Alaskan aviation industry to encourage additional ADS-B avionics installations.

Below is the archive of historical materials from the Capstone Project.

General Historical Documents and Reports

Documents

• Garmin GDL 90 Data Interface Specification (PDF)
• AFS-1 Authorization for Use of ADS-B (PDF)
• AUA-600 ADS-B Acceptability Evaluation (PDF)
• AUA-650 ADS-B Evaluation Report (PDF)
• Capstone Safety Engineering Report Volume 1 (PDF)
• Capstone Safety Engineering Report Volume 2 (PDF)
• Capstone Safety Engineering Report Volume 3 (PDF)
• Test & Evaluation Master Plan for Radar Like Services (PDF, 3.3 MB)

Reports

• Aviation Access to Remote Locations in Alaska (PDF)
• Implementing the Link Decision (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• Assessment of Advanced Cockpit Displays for General Aviation - March 2002 (PDF)
• WAAS IRB Executive Summary (PDF)
• WAAS IRB Report (PDF, 3.1 MB)
• Concept of Operations, SE Alaska (PDF)
• Participating Owner/Operator & Installer Information Package (PDF)
• Avionics Installation Analysis, Capabilities, Capacities, Strategies, and Planning Report (PDF)
• Environmental Analysis (PDF)
• Capstone Program Plan V3 (PDF)
• Capstone Program Plan V2 (PDF)
• Capstone Program Plan V1 (PDF)

Phase 1: Yukon Kuskokwim Delta

General Phase 1 Information

• Capstone Phase I Overview (PDF)
• External Link: View a Capstone Installation
• TIS-B Training (PDF)

Phase 1 Reports

• Y-K Delta Service Area Map (PDF)
• 2005 Impact of Capstone Phase 1 - Final Report (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• 2005 Impact of Capstone Phase 1 - Post Transitional Annual Report (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• UAA 2003 Summary Report (PDF)
• UAA 2002 Safety Study (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• UAA 2002 Safety Study - Executive Summary (PDF)
• UAA 2001 Safety Study (PDF)
• UAA 2001 Safety Study - Executive Summary (PDF)
• UAA Phase 1 Baseline Report (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• MITRE 2000 - 2002 Interim Assessment (PDF)
• MITRE 2000 - 2001 Interim Assessment (PDF)
• Flight Standards AK Region (AAL240) Report on Phase 1 Implementation (PDF)
• System Safety Evaluation, Capstone Phase I Implementation (PDF)
  • Appendix 1: Detailed Summary of Surveys (PDF)
  • Appendix 2: SnapChart (PDF)
• System Safety Evaluation, Capstone Phase II Implementation (PDF)
• Cessna 208 De-icing Evaluation Interim Report (PDF)
• A Review of Accidents Involving Alaskan Air Taxi Commercial Flight Operations 1983 to 2000 (PDF)

Phase 2: Southeast Alaska

General Phase 2 Information

• Capstone Phase II Overview (PDF)
• Installation photos of first prototype Chelton system

Phase 2 Reports

• Phase II Full Report (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Phase II Summary Report (PDF)
• July 2005 Final Summary 2004 Phase II Report (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• UAA 2003 Summary (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• UAA Baseline Report (PDF)
• Preliminary Hazard Status Report (PDF)
• UAT GBT Specification (PDF, 1.6 MB)
• RNAV Test and Evaluation Master Plan (PDF, 8.5 MB)
• Install Plan (PDF)
• SFAR 97 (PDF)

If you require an accessible version of one of the documents provided on this page, please contact adsb@faa.gov.