Air Traffic Control
Corridor Integrated Weather System
The Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS) is now in use at eight en route centers in the northeast U.S., six major terminal control areas, and the Aviation Research System Command Center. The CIWS integrates data from national weather radars with thunderstorm- forecasting technology, and aids analysis of airspace congested by convective weather, the largest cause of air traffic delay in the National Airspace System. Ongoing software engineering efforts to restructure the CIWS prototype will enable coverage of the continental United States.
Since 1971, Lincoln Laboratory has supported the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the development of new technology for air traffic control. This work initially focused on aircraft surveillance and weather sensing, collision avoidance, and air-ground communications. While the Laboratory continues to support the FAA in these areas, the current program focuses on the development of safety- or capacity-enhancing systems that exploit this surveillance, weather, and communications infrastructure. Key activities include the operation of a national-scale integrated weather-sensing and decision-support prototype; testing and technology transfer of a runway-incursion prevention system; and the development of a net-centric, system-wide information management system.
Find out more about the Air Traffic Control mission:
- Program overview
- Principal accomplishments over the past year
- Future outlook and focus for upcoming year
Leadership for Air Traffic Control
Dr. Mark E. Weber
Mr. James M. Flavin
Ms. Elizabeth R. Ducot
Dr. Marilyn M. Wolfson
Dr. James K. Kuchar
Dr. Herbert E. M. Viggh
Technical Groups
Descriptions of the two technical groups contributing to the Air Traffic Control mission, the Surveillance Systems Group and the Weather Sensing Group, can be found on the Organization of Technical Divisions page.
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