SWIM Terminal Data Distribution System (STDDS)
STDDS Overview
SWIM Terminal Data Distribution System (STDDS) converts legacy terminal data collected from airport towers and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities into easily accessible information, which is published via the National Airspace System (NAS) Enterprise Messaging Service (NEMS).
STDDS publishes data from the following FAA airport and terminal systems:
- ASDE-X - Airport Surface Detection Equipment – Model X
- ASSC - Airport Surface Surveillance Capability
- STARS - Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System
- RVR - Runway Visual Range
- EFSTS - Electronic Flight Strip Transfer System
- TDLS - Tower Data Link Services
STDDS publishes data to NAS and non-NAS subscribers, via NEMS, in accordance with SWIM standards
STDDS is installed at 38 TRACONS
- Access to data from over 200 airports
- Data from over 400 individual systems
STDDS News and Events
STARS TRACON Consolidations: SPI, PIA (9/10/2022)
On September 10-11, the STARS TRACONs at Springfield, IL (SPI) and Peoria, IL (PIA) will be consolidated into St Louis, MO (T75) TRACON.
This is a change to the STARS system; instead of being distinct STARS TRACONs, SPI and PIA will become remote towers within the T75 airspace, and their AIG data will become part of the T75 STARS/TAIS feed. It is possible that the STARS system will send radar data (track and flight plan messages) via both C90 and T75 for a short time.
Please direct any questions to swim@faa.gov.
STDDS R6P2 Deployment Complete
The STDDS R6P2 waterfall deployment completed 4/23/2022. All 38 STDDS TRACONs have been updated to R6P2.
R6P2 enhancements include new TDLS messages in TDES, additional SMES events, and enhancement of SMES CAT10 data with SFDPS flight plan data.
Please see the Release Notes in the Documents section as well as additional documentation the NSRR for more information on R6P2.
Please direct any questions to swim@faa.gov.
Refreshed RVR Website Launched (1/2/2018)
The new FAA RVR website is live at https://rvr.data.faa.gov and has been expanded to include STDDS APDS airports (currently 131 airports). The old RVR website at http://rvr.fly.faa.gov/ will be decommissioned at somepoint in the future. Please update your bookmarks accordingly.
Important notification regarding beacon code information (10/11/2017)
Please see the new document in the STDDS Documents section, Beacon Code Notification (10/11/2017) (PDF), for further information.
FIXM (10/10/2017)
The FIXM-Mediated STDDS Data Overview document is now available in the STDDS Document section. Corresponding STDDS data in the internationally accepted FIXM-compliant format is scheduled for availability by early 2018. See https://www.fixm.aero for more information about the FIXM standard or contact the STDDS team at swim@faa.gov if you need additional assistance.
STDDS R6P2 Deployment Complete
The STDDS R6P2 waterfall deployment completed 4/23/2022. All 38 STDDS TRACONs have been updated to R6P2.
R6P2 enhancements include new TDLS messages in TDES, additional SMES events, and enhancement of SMES CAT10 data with SFDPS flight plan data.
Please see the Release Notes in the Documents section as well as additional documentation the NSRR for more information on R6P2.
Please direct any questions to swim@faa.gov.
- APDS (Airport Data Service): RVR Data, visual runway range and trend, runway edge lighting
- SMES (Surface Movement Event Service): ASDE-X/ASSC data, OOOI events (Spot Out, Off, On, Spot In), Category 11/Category 10 position reports.
- TAIS (Terminal Automation Information Service): STARS data including status, track and flight plan, alert, SISO event, IMC status, traffic count, and performance monitoring
- TDES (Tower Departure Event Service): TDLS/EFSTS data, including parking gate, clearance delivery time, taxi start time, takeoff time, and departure runway (currently only available to authorized user; public access is planned for STDDS R4)
- ISMC (Infrastructure, Monitor and Control Service): Provides periodic status information for all STDDS sites and services
NSRR contains STDDS technical details such as the Java Messaging Service Description Document (JMSDD), XML schema describing the STDDS messages, sample data, and documents providing details on data fields.
NAS Service Registry/Repository (NSRR) is a SWIM-supported capability for storing, sharing, and managing information about all SWIM-enabled services, including both operational services as well as services in development. Access to NSRR requires an account which can be easily obtained here.
STDDS is available in three FAA environments:
- Research & Development (R&D)
- FTI National Test Bed (FNTB)
- NAS Operations
Consumers on-ramp separately to each of these environments. Consumers develop their client software by connecting to STDDS via SWIM in the R&D environment, perform formal qualification testing with the FAA in the FNTB environment, and upon approval may connect to the NAS Operations environment to receive live data.
The Site Availability document (MS Excel) contains information about what sites is publishing which data, and future site and data availability.
STDDS Documents
- STDDS R6P2 Release Notes (PDF)
- Beacon Code Notification (10/11/2017) (PDF)
- FIXM-Mediated STDDS Data Overview (PDF)
- Site Availability Document (MS Excel)
- Sample Client (8/18/2016)
For technical documentation please visit the NSRR (STDDS services: APDS, ISMC, SMES, TAIS, TDES)