Description
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking industry comments on the revised draft Remote Radio Control System (RRCS) specification. The RRCS is a service system consisting of hardware and software used by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to operate an airport's suitably-equipped Visual Guidance Lighting Systems (VGLSs). The system enables ATC to turn VGLSs ON or OFF, change intensity levels on select equipment, and enable or disable control of VGLS equipment by airborne users. The RRCS is composed of three major units: a Control Display Unit (CDU), a Transmitter Control Unit (TCU), and a Remote VGLS Interface Unit (RVIU). Key features of the system include backward compatibility with legacy equipment, user interface requirements, and system requirements such as electromagnetic interference control and lightning/transient protection. The FAA intends to utilize industry comments in finalizing the RRCS specification. Some of the key requirements of the system include:
• The CDU shall be a touchscreen capable of controlling up to 12 approaches with a maximum of 36 Visual Guidance Lighting Systems (VGLSs).
• The TCU shall be capable of receiving system configuration files or maintenance activities when connected to the Maintenance Terminal (MT).
• The RVIU shall be equipped with a radio transceiver to receive VGLS control commands from the TCU via radio link.
• The system shall be capable of operating in both Ground-to-Ground (G/G) and Air-to-Ground (A/G) modes.
• The system shall be designed to withstand various environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, vibration, sand, and dust.