Aviation Infrastructure: Feasibility of Using Alternate Means to Satisfy Requirements of Alaska National Airspace System Interfacility Communications System (ANICS) Phase II

摘要

In the early 1990s, the Congress authorized a satellite-based communications network, now known as ANICS, to conduct voice and data transmissions for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) air traffic control operations in Alaska. ANICS supports critical, essential, and routine services, including terminal and en route air traffic control, navigation, flight service, and weather operations. In July 1993, FAA competitively awarded a $140 million contract to the Harris Corporation. The ANICS contract was split into two distinct phases: (1) In Phase I, 52 dual satellite-earth stations (also referred to as sites) were constructed throughout Alaska. These stations provide critical and essential services with 99.99 percent availability-an equivalent downtime of about 52 minutes per site per year. (2) Phase II is to build additional single satellite-earth stations. These stations are designed to provide essential and routine services with 99.9 percent availability an equivalent downtime of about 9 hours per site per year.