**1. Director Hits the 'Small Screen'**

By Holly Baker

  ---------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
  Technical Center Director **Dr. Wilson N. Felder**   ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.4583333333333333in"
  recently was the featured guest on a local           height="2.0416666666666665in"}
  issues-oriented television show, "The Atlantic       
  County Report," which is hosted by the Atlantic      
  County Executive's office and telecast on TV 40, the 
  Atlantic City NBC affiliate. Dr. Felder talked about 
  the mission of the Technical Center, key projects    
  that are underway here and his vision for the future 
  of the Center.                                       

  ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="4.895833333333333in"   
  height="1.5625in"}                                   
  ---------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

The broadcast aired on September 17. A link to the broadcast, courtesy
of TV 40, may be viewed at:

<ftp://www.its.tc.faa.gov/incoming/imaging/video/felder/>

2\. **Holly Cyrus Presents Keynote at IEEE / AIAA Dinner Meeting**

By Bob Cranston

**Holly Cyrus**, FAA Project Manager, Aircraft Safety and Airport R&D
Division, recently presented the keynote address at the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) / American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics ( AIAA) Dinner Meeting, which was held at
the Mays Landing Country Club. The address was titled, "Airport Lighting
and Signage for Safer Landings and Pilot Operations."

Our nation has seen numerous aviation fatalities occur while aircraft
are taxiing on an airport surface, or departing or arriving from
runways. In poor visibility conditions, pilots depend heavily on airport
lighting and signage systems.

Holly explained how the work that the Aircraft Safety and Airport
Research and Development (R&D) Team conducts will result in safer
landings, departures, and operational use of runways. She covered
ongoing research at the Technical Center to improve airport safety,
including leading edge research that will improve airport signage,
lighting and pavement marking; and she discussed lighting issues related
to wind turbines and light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The discussion of LEDs got into a number of interesting issues including
how LED technology interacts when interspersed with standard
incandescent lights on airport circuits; how LED intensity changes can
be effected; how the "narrow spectral band" of LEDs impacts pilots with
certain types of color deficient vision; and how LEDs can be seen on an
enhanced vision display.

An 18-year employee of the FAA, Holly holds a BS in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from Capella
University of Minnesota. She is a member of The Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America (IESNA), the recognized technical authority on
illumination; a division governor in Toastmasters, the world's largest
organization devoted to developing communication skills; and the current
chairperson of Women In Engineering, an IEEE affiliate group.

3\. **FAA Art Show**

By Stan Ciurczak

Technical Center employees were treated to a fine art show in the
Technical Center Atrium earlier this year. The artists contributing to
the FAA Art Show included **Carla M. Brennan**, an abstract artist who
also works in Automated Information Management; **Michael Gross**, a
videographer who was working in the Advanced Imaging Division at the
time of the show; **Ken Kepchar**, Chief System Engineer; **Ernie
Pappas**, Tech Center photographer; and **Laurie Zaleski**, President,
ArtZ Graphics.  

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.05625in" height="1.4666666666666666in"}

**Carla M. Brennan**

**Carla Brennan** works in Automated Information Management in the
Technical Services Facility. Her favorite style of painting is abstract.
"It starts with an emotion and finishes with paint everywhere, like
finger-painting in kindergarten,\" she explained.

 ![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.7513888888888889in"
height="1.5527777777777778in"}

**Michael Gross and Laurie Zaleski**

**Michael Gross** and **Laurie Zaleski** studied ceramics at Cumberland
County Clay College (Millville) under their teacher, **Terry Plasket**,
who oversees the ceramics studio at Wheaton Arts Center and Village. The
ceramics they created and displayed in the show were fired at
temperatures above 2000 degrees.

  ![](media/image5.jpeg){width="1.851388888888889in"
height="1.913888888888889in"}

**Ken Kepchar**

**Ken Kepchar** has been an avid amateur photographer for years,
especially when capturing the beauty of nature around us. He previously
has exhibited in Washington, DC, including a show at DOT Headquarters.
The collection of images he exhibited at the Tech Center captured scenes
that were shot at his home on the Potomac River in Northern Virginia.

 ![](media/image6.jpeg){width="1.6743055555555555in"
height="2.1659722222222224in"}

**Ernie Pappas**

**Ernie Pappas** is a third-generation professional photographer who is
keenly aware of how photography has evolved in the past century. His
grandfather got into the business at a time when you had to make your
own emulsions and coat your own paper and glass plates. Both his parents
were photographers, and his mother owned and managed the family's
photography studio in Dover, NJ. Ernie learned how to walk in that
studio and (like any other youngster) swore he would never learn to
answer the phone, watch the studio, or shoot pictures. However, his
parents made him learn the business, and learn it he did.

Ernie's first professional images were done while in the White House
Presidential Helicopter Squadron of HMX-1, Marine One. "It seems somehow
aviation has always been with me," Ernie said as he explained that an
image of General Wallace M. Greene Jr., Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps,
sitting in the cockpit of an old Marine Corps biplane, was one of his
first professional pictures. Years later their paths crossed again and
the Commandant was happy to autograph a copy of that photo for him.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="1.6875in" height="2.1145833333333335in"}

**General Wallace M. Greene Jr., Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps**

Ernie worked for a while at National Geographic after leaving the Marine
Corps, and eventually opened an advertising photography business in
North Jersey. Ernie enjoys fine art photography of street and human
interest, especially large-format still life that he shoots with 8x10
and 4x5 cameras. He explained that, "Photography is a tough nut to
crack. The rewards are of a different kind. I earn a far more profound
wage for my labors, especially when coupled with a proper honorable
profession."

4\. **CFC Update**

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="1.8479166666666667in"
height="2.6354166666666665in"}

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) at the Technical Center has raised
\$138,884.93 -- so far - as of January 19, 2007. Way to go!

**Mary Granese** advises that this fundraising effort is continuing, so
if you still wish to participate, please contact Mary in the Advanced
Imaging Division.

5\. **Interview: Richard M. (Dick) Johnson**

By Stan Ciurczak

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="3.75in"}

***Editor's Note:** Richard (Dick) Johnson recently retired from the FAA
after 42 years of service. In addition to his many years of service as a
civilian employee, Rich also spent many years in the U.S. Army and the
U.S. Navy. Dick also has given his all to the Showmakers, a local
theatre troupe, for many years. He will continue with Showmakers, begin
a new part-time job at a local golf course and keep on riding his
motorcycle in retirement.*

 

**Stan Ciurczak:** Good afternoon, Rich. Thank you for allowing me to
interview you for Inside the Fence.

**Rich Johnson:** You are very welcome, Stan.

**Stan Ciurczak:** How did you get started in your career here?

**Rich Johnson:** I worked for Lockheed Aircraft Services over at the
FAA Hangar for 5 years. I saw a job opening out here and I put in for it
and, somewhat surprisingly, I got it.

**Stan Ciurczak:** When did you work for Lockheed?

**Rich Johnson:** 1954-1964.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Was that for the National Aviation Facilities
Experimental Center (NAFEC)?

**Rich Johnson:** Yes, from 1958-1964 we did work for NAFEC. Prior to
that, from about 1954-1956, Lockheed did work for Atlantic City Airport
.

**Stan Ciurczak:** When did you become a Federal employee?

![](media/image10.jpeg){width="3.3020833333333335in" height="4.8125in"}

**Dick Johnson in 1961 when he was an aviation mechanic at Atlantic City
Airport**

**Rich Johnson:** I became a Federal employee in 1964.

**Stan Ciurczak:** As we speak, I'm looking out your window and I can
see quite a few birds.

**Rich Johnson:** Yes they are feasting out there. Stand up and take a
look. I cleared off a space from the snow to lay down some bird feed. Of
course the blue jays are missing now, the black birds and so forth, but
there are others that come around this time of year. I haven't seen the
turkeys lately. Some time ago, the second time I saw them; they were
running at high speed down the edge of the wood line towards the back.
Lately they have been around very little. I don't understand why but
this happened once before. They were gone for about a week and then they
came back but that was during hunting season, I think. I was concerned
that they may have become a turkey dinner.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Tell me what you do here in Building 203.

**Rich Johnson:** Building 203 on the R&D side of the Tech Center is
considered to be a small materials test building. We test large sections
of aircraft up in Building 275 and try to determine survivable limits,
if you will, of new materials. We then develop a test method that
industry can use to meet the requirements that we feel are necessary.
There will be rules developed off those big tests to improve the
materials. I don't think you will ever make materials that are
absolutely fire proof, but they can be highly fire resistant. Then we
try and assist the industry in a test method that will prove that they
have achieved that standard. A very interesting part of my tour here has
been the travel I did to look at equipment all over the country and the
world.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Have you traveled a lot in your job?

**Rich Johnson:** Yes, quite a bit. **Larry Fitzgerald** and myself went
to several places. Our purpose was to train the Aircraft Certification
Officials or ACO's, as we call them, and make it easier for them to do
their job because, in my opinion, they were spread kind of thin. They
work quite a bit and check the work standards against the FAA's
regulations on fire resistant materials. The equipment is somewhat
complicated and we have to be assured that they are up-to-date on it,
and that meant traveling. We have another way of doing things now. About
once a year we invited them here for a training class for about 4 days.
It could be a new hire, a transferred person or someone who just wants
to be updated.

**Stan Ciurczak:** What is your position and what kind of work do you
do?

**Rich Johnson:** As the facility manager, my job basically is to
operate the equipment, keep it up to standards and stay abreast of all
the standards. I also try and watch after the building we work in.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Whom do you report to?

**Rich Johnson: Gus Sarkos** has been the chief of aircraft fire safety
for a number of years. He is a real nice guy and we have a good working
rapport.

**Stan Ciurczak:Ginger Cairnes** tells me that you have a background in
acting and directing, too. Can you tell me about that?

**Rich Johnson:** Yes, I remember Ginger from the many years when she
was in the Showmakers. One show in Atlantic City , called Flight Spirit,
comes to mind. It was not at a casino but in the Viking Theater at
Haddon Hall, which is on the 13 th floor of what is now the Resorts
Casino and Hotel. That theater has a great history. It is a beautiful
theater that seats about 200. I worked in there with the Showmakers for
about 10 years, about three shows a year. There have been rumors in
recent years about them tearing it down and doing something to benefit
their business, however, the historical background prompted some
possible delaying tactics or whatever. It is just beautiful inside. The
workmanship inside is very interesting. The names of many famous
composers are around the top edge. It is a small stage but functional.
There is a very limited backstage, which is difficult to work with, but
nonetheless we thought it was like a home. The dressing rooms are
downstairs, and when a show required a quick wardrobe change you really
had to move. It was very interesting and I enjoyed every bit of it.

**Stan Ciurczak:** How did you get involved with theatre?

**Rich Johnson:** Helen Beckert, a lady who formerly was Miss NAFEC, got
me involved. **Helen Vaspolli** is her married name now. She is a
charming lady I met when I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law.
She came across the street to sell tickets to a show they were doing in
Hammonton depicting the 100 th Anniversary of that town. I happened to
be there and indicated I had an interest in theater. That was it; I was
hooked! Ever since then I have been with the group.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Are you still involved?

**Rich Johnson:** A little bit. The last show I did was a couple years
ago, "To Kill a Mockingbird." I played the Judge part.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Oh, you act as well; you're not just a stagehand?

**Rich Johnson:** I did every phase of the theater. From excellent
tooling to Ruthina Rockelman, who is a former, Hollywood ballet and she
did movies and she retired from the professional theater to get married.
Being in the theater, of course, she got into this show business and she
taught me everything! I was so attached to her and I learned everything
I did. So in a period of time, I probably did about every phase of show
business. I directed, played several lead roles including Gypsy and many
other parts. One of my favorites that Helen directed was "Mr. Roberts."
I played the captain, which in the movie was done by James Cagney.
Cagney fascinates me and I was able to apparently pull off the exit and
everything. *"All right Mr., let's have this out, right here and now."*
I really enjoyed it. I also played the judge in "A Few Good Men" and one
of the Russian's in "Silk Stockings." In "Born Yesterday" I played the
lead and had a wonderful time with that. Helen played opposite me; she
is a terrific actress. So, I've had a wonderful career in the field. It
is so different than test work that focuses on safety and seriousness.
The theater is fun; it was a nice contrast.

**Stan Ciurczak:** I see several different military pictures behind you.
Do you have a military background?

**Rich Johnson:** I spent 5 years in the Navy full-time and 15 years in
the Army Reserve. At one time I was in charge of the motor pool in the
local reserve center down in Northfield . Apparently because of the
troops' appreciation, they gave me a plaque of appreciation. Some of the
other soldiers there said it was the first time they had seen them give
that type of a plaque to someone. I tried to follow that well- known
factor of service, when you become in charge of something and you have
to tell someone else to do something, you better know how to do it
yourself. I think they appreciated it. They came up with the photo and
the plaque and everything and had it made.

**Stan Ciurczak:** You were an Aviation Mechanic for Lockheed?

**Rich Johnson:** I've been a mechanic all my life. I worked in an
aircraft engine overhaul factory -- Airwork -- for 5 years before coming
here; and that is what I did in the Navy. I was an aircraft mechanic.
Originally, I think all my aircraft experience had something to do with
me getting the job out here.

**Stan Ciurczak:** What was the name of the outfit you worked with after
the Navy?

**Rich Johnson:** Airwork Corporation in Millville . That was all
reciprocating engines that they were overhauling. Jets were just
starting to come on the market, and by the time I left they were
starting to take in jets, too.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Were you in the Navy here at Pomona ?

**Rich Johnson:** I was up in Newfoundland and got transferred down here
right after the Korean War started. I was assigned to Squadron BC33.

**Stan:** You were way up in Newfoundland ?

**Rich Johnson** : Yes, I was with a complete aircraft service squadron
where we handled maintenance work for aircraft that either was up there
on patrol or actual Navy-type aircraft that would land there to pick up
passengers and drop them off or whatever. If they had any problems, we
took care of them -- refueling, etc. -- service work.

**Stan Ciurczak:** When did you transfer to the Naval Air Station
Atlantic City?

**Rich Johnson:** July 1950. The Korean War started, I think, in June
1950.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Do you happen to have any old photos from your Navy
days?

**Rich Johnson:** I'm sure I do.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Why do you think that NAFEC was set up here after the
Navy base closed?

**Rich Johnson:** The potential for a fog was good. Another feature was
that we were directly in line with the East coast of high-density
traffic. As you know, we have a great expertise here in Air Traffic
Control and a great opportunity there. I understand that Florida was
considered as a potential site for NAFEC, primarily for the electricity
work that was being done in lightning strikes. So that is why they
wanted to go there but this place had more features and it was an
excellent decision.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Were you born and raised in this area?

**Rich Johnson:** No, I was born and raised in Quincy , MA . I left
there when I was 17 and that was it. I go back there once in awhile. I
have one sister left up there but she is in a nursing home for rehab and
is 87 years old. Soon I'll be 75 myself.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Good for you!

**Rich Johnson:** I really don't have a desire to retire.

**Stan Ciurczak:** I don't blame you.

**Rich Johnson:** I had set a date for the beginning of June 2006, but
as the date gets closer, I get further away from it. In June 2006 I will
have 42 years of Federal service without counting my 5 years in the
military, which would give me 47 years.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Tell me about that photo on your desk of your
daughter.

**Rich Johnson:** My daughter is **Lisa Johnson** . She used to be an
anchor for local TV station NBC Channel 40. The photo you're looking at
shows Lisa sitting in the middle of the car there with a couple of the
boys who also were at Channel 40.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Of course. Where is she now?

**Rich Johnson:** My daughter Lisa is now in Las Vegas . She went out
there to take the anchor job with Channel 8 out there, and she got an
offer from the company that owns the Venetian Casino that she could not
refuse. She is the Director of Public Relations there and is doing very
well.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Who is in this photo of a Harley-Davidson?

**Rich Johnson:** This picture goes back to 1961 and I'm sitting on the
end there on my Harley-Davidson. I've been riding for more than 50 years
and I still ride. I have a Honda right now that I sometimes bring it to
work. My current bike is close to 900 lbs.

**Stan Ciurczak:** How far do you drive?

**Rich Johnson:** I take trips and I go up to Lake George every year.
I've been up there six or seven times and also have been to Daytona ,
Florida . I belong to a club called The Retreads. Every Sunday morning
we have breakfast someplace different and go on trips after that. We
might go to the Pocono's, to Maryland or somewhere in Pennsylvania . I
also have a commercial pilot's license. I was able to fly some of the
little aircraft at the Tech Center in what they called the little guy's
projects, which were designed to evaluate new pieces of equipment. I
always had a check pilot ride with me. It was very interesting. I
enjoyed the work, especially since it was free -- in fact I got paid,
too!

**Stan Ciurczak:** What were those projects all about?

**Rich Johnson:** They were the little guy's projects in comparison
with, say, the airline pilots. These are people who do not have an
instrument rating and they want to see how they can get some device to
get them to turn around if they ran into bad weather while in the
flight. In other words, to be capable to make a 180-degree turn while
you can't see where you are going and have to rely on the instruments.
That was part of it. There were other things too, such as
collision-avoidance type work. That was all very interesting. That's
another nice thing about **Gus Sarkos**; he let me do that. It might
take a couple hours or a day here or there.

A large part of our work involves accident investigation. We find out
why an aircraft crashed, what can we do to make the fatalities less and
we have developed some terrific, terrific programs that have saved lives
and that is a great feeling. One of the things I don't care for is the
fact that no one in the surrounding area seems to know what we do here.
The story that you are planning to write could help, if you would talk
to **Gus Sarkos** and get some information that would enlighten local
people about this place. I think this place is so important, and that is
another reason why I don't want to retire. It is very interesting work.

**Stan Ciurczak:** What year was this again?

**Rich Johnson** : Around 1960 or 1961. Because I went with them in
1959-64.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Should we go ahead and put the date on the back here?

**Rich Johnson** : Yes, around 1961.

**Stan Ciurczak** : This was about 3 years before you became a Fed.

**Rich Johnson:** Yes

**Stan Ciurczak:** I will return them all. All I have to do is scan it.

**Rich Johnson** : That might stir some memories of Lockheed Aircraft
Services, but you can't quite see it. It was called Lassie; Lockheed
Aircraft Services, Inc. or something like that. I worked on a variety of
aircraft; they had many different aircraft -- not like it is today.
Today they have several aircraft but I think we had more. We had
Convair\'s, DC4, DC6, DC7, F9, F-Fighter, Beechcraft; I can't remember
all of it. Bill Coward who was a commander here at one time, he used to
jump in that thing and he would never go to the runway. He would get off
the ramp and go to the taxi way and go. He would say, this is my plane
and I go where I want. I don't think he said that, but it would seem
that way. He was a very nice guy. I remember working on a ship one time
on a Sunday, and we were doing a check on an Air Commando, that was
another aircraft we had. Sunday afternoon he came in to see if we would
have it done, because he had to go to Washington the next day. That was
the attitude. You'd come in; you wouldn't pick up the phone and call.
You would come in.

**Stan Ciurczak** : I get the impression that there was a lot of that
hands-on kind of stuff, back when. I read that when they did the 20 th
anniversary of this place that the Base Commander would go from building
to building checking on project work.

**Rich Johnson:** Well, this guy wasn't a commander, but a chief
scientist -- he was a German fellow. However, I happened to be in a
lounge one night and he was there and I sat next to him and we got to
talking, and I told him that I wish he would come out and see our place
and see what we are doing out there. He was kind of stunned and he said,
well, I know that is where all the work is because all the reports are
coming from out there and not here.

**Stan Ciurczak** : Was he chief scientist in Washington or here?

**Rich Johnson:** Here -- he was physically here. He was one of the
people we got from Germany after the war. He was a rocket scientist. He
was a very intelligent person. I remember taking a PR to him one time,
\$2.50 for some stovepipe - we were making pipes out here, and he was
disgusted. He said: Why am I signing something like this? Why should it
go that high up the ladder? And I agreed with him but the concept at
that time must have been that way. Maybe the purse strings were being
tightened at that point. That's how it was.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Tell me about the Supersonic Transport Jet Aircraft
(SST).

**Rich Johnson:** On the SST we had the prototype that was being done
out in California and when they lost the contract to the people who made
the SST in England and France over there, they sold us the fuselage
section. We set it up out in the field out here, in the pit, and we had
our own fire and the firemen failed to follow proper procedures and the
fuselage cracked. Before they opened the door, there was an explosion --
and this was perhaps the greatest thing we learned -- but there was an
explosion inside and there was nothing in there but a few chairs, and a
rug but they used an RTV sealer on it, a silicone base type, and it
would turn to a fine dust. The same thing happened there and when this
metal got hot it would ignite and it exploded inside. It was
inconceivable; knocking cameras over and everything, because the cameras
they put in there, we assured them that the temperature probably would
not reach over 400 degrees. Well, it went a little higher than that and
we lost the film. They sent the film to Eastman Kodak and they couldn't
even retrieve it. That was the sad part of the whole thing, but the one
basic thing that the chief engineer on that -- he was French and he
immediately got in touch with the French and told them not to use RTV
for a sealer. I believe they did switch and I think that was one of the
greatest benefits out of that project. So we did a lot of testing
in-house here, small-scale, and practically duplicated the
non-explosions, how it degraded under the heat and turned into what was
like a white fog.

**Stan Ciurczak:** Thanks, Rich. It has been a pleasure speaking with
you about your distinguished career in the Government. Best good wishes
to you in retirement!

6\. **Spotlight: New DOT Secretary Mary E. Peters**

By Pete Castellano

![](media/image11.jpeg){width="3.6458333333333335in"
height="2.4583333333333335in"}

**White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten (left) swears in new DOT
Secretary Mary Peters as her husband, Terry Peters (right), and
President Bush look on.**

**Mary E. Peters** was nominated by President **George W. Bush** on
September 5, 2006, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 15th
Secretary of Transportation on September 30, 2006, after spending more
than two decades crafting solutions to our nation\'s toughest
transportation challenges. FAA headquarters had the honor to host
Peters' official swearing-in ceremony on October 17 th. Outgoing
Secretary **Norman Mineta** was present for the ceremony.

During the ceremony , President Bush said modernizing air traffic
control would be a major challenge for Secretary Peters. President Bush
went on to highlight future aviation issues that Peters will have to
handle, including next year's FAA reauthorization legislation, which
will address the modernization of the air traffic system.

![](media/image12.jpeg){width="1.0416666666666667in"
height="1.0416666666666667in"}

**The official portrait of new Secretary of Transportation Mary E.
Peters is unveiled.**

In her new position, she will face important challenges," Bush said.
"Next year she will lead the Department's efforts to reauthorize our
nation's aviation programs. Our nation is outgrowing our aviation
capacity. More people are flying every year, and so we must modernize
our airports and our air traffic control. "Mary is a dedicated public
servant, an experienced leader, and one of our nation\'s most innovative
thinkers on transportation issues. Mary brings more than two decades of
knowledge and skill to her new post," said Bush.

Peters acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead for her, but said she
is "ready and eager" to tackle them. "Reauthorizing the nation's
aviation programs will be a significant priority," Peters acknowledged
in her nomination hearing statement September 20. This includes the
critical issue of how best to finance the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
The majority of the FAA's budget is financed from the Airport and Airway
Trust Fund, which receives its revenue from aviation excise taxes on
airline tickets, cargo, and general aviation fuel. The FAA authorization
legislation -- likely to be submitted to Congress early next year --
also needs to adequately address the modernization of the air traffic
system to deal with looming challenges. Peters said in her statement she
was looking forward to working with lawmakers "on crafting a bill that
not only improves aviation safety, but also identifies new approaches to
modernizing the air traffic control system to meet increased travel
demand ... and addresses the aviation needs to small urban communities
and rural areas."\
\
Peters' experience should stand her in good stead for the 2007 FAA
financing debate. Peters' was credited with working well with Congress
on the massive and contentious \$284 billion highway bill in her former
position as head of the Federal Highway Administration.  **James May**,
president and chief executive of the Air Transport Association, said in
a statement that her "vast experience in the recent successful
reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund" should help her in working on
next year's FAA reauthorization.

A top priority, she stressed, is making travel safer. "But we also want
to work to improve the system performance and reliability, and to find
21st century solutions for 21st century transportation challenges," she
added.

In dealing with these challenges, Peters urged forward-thinking
solutions. "We can\'t assume that the methods of the past will work for
the future. Instead, we are going to recognize that our transportation
challenges have changed dramatically in the 40 years since this
Department came into being, and so must our approaches."

Secretary Peters brings a unique perspective to her role as the nation's
transportation chief, having spent her career working on transportation
issues in the private and public sectors, including leading both federal
and state transportation agencies.

Prior to joining President Bush's cabinet, Peters worked in Phoenix, AZ,
as the national director for transportation policy and consulting at
HDR, Inc., a major engineering firm. She was responsible for building a
management consulting practice and formulating public policy initiatives
for the firm\'s transportation program.

In 2001, the President asked Peters to lead the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA). She served as FHWA Administrator from 2001 to
2005. From 1985 to 2001, she served in the Arizona Department of
Transportation (ADOT). During her tenure, Peters worked her way up
through the ranks as a contract administrator, deputy director for
administration, and deputy director. In 1998, then-Governor Jane Hull
appointed her director of the agency. While in office, she was
recognized as the Most Influential Person in Arizona Transportation by
the Arizona Business Journal. Secretary Peters later received the 2004
National Woman of the Year Award from the Women's Transportation
Seminar, a national organization of transportation professionals.

A fourth-generation Arizonan and an avid motorcyclist, Secretary Peters
holds a bachelor\'s degree from the University of Phoenix and attended
Harvard University\'s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for
State and Local Government Executives. She and her husband, Terry, have
three grown children, and five grandchildren.

7\. **Farewell Party Held in Smithville for Barbara Harris-Para**

By Stan Ciurczak

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="3.066666666666667in"
height="3.0597222222222222in"}

**Maudie M. Powell presents retirement certificate to Barbara
Harris-Para**

***Note from the Editors:** All of us here at Inside the Fence and in
the Organizational Excellence Group wish Barbara and her husband Fred
all the best as they begin their retirement in North Carolina.*

A "farewell" luncheon was held in honor of Barbara Harris-Para recently
at Fred & Ethel's Restaurant in Smithville. Barbara was truly surprised
by the large turnout.

Guests enjoyed a delicious lunch. **Laurie Zaleski**, one of Barbara's
private pilot students and president of ART-Z Graphics, displayed some
great photos from various Tech Center activities that Barb was involved
in through a slide presentation and a poster. **Adam Greco** said a few
words, "taking the heat," according to Barbara, for hiring her as an Air
Traffic Assistant back in 2000 from Titan. Barbara began her career here
at the Tech Center as a part-time employee of Systems Resources, which
later became Titan.

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="2.0875in" height="2.1152777777777776in"}

**Adam Greco**

Some close local friends from teaching, flying students and neighbors
from her hometown of Sweetwater, as well as Tech Center employees,
attended the luncheon. The food was excellent. The favors, which were
provided by **Janet Kinsell**, her sister Vicki and her mother, were
appropriately decorated with an airplane.

Many gifts and plaques were presented to Barbara. She quipped, "My
husband will probably add them to my garage hall of fame. He says I can
drive through each time I enter or leave the garage, plus the walls in
the house will have room for pictures." She expressed appreciation to
Janet Kinsell, **Carol Alfonso** and **Roxie Mays** for planning the
luncheon.

![](media/image15.jpeg){width="2.24375in" height="3.1756944444444444in"}

**Barbara Harris-Para**

Barbara and her husband, Fred, now reside in Whispering Pines, NC, which
is not far from Fayetteville. She suggests, "If anyone is in the
neighborhood, please stop in and visit." She added, "I really have
enjoyed working with everyone here at the Technical Center, and it has
been my pleasure to help customers receive the materials that they
requested through FOIA. I will miss everyone greatly, but another
chapter begins in my life. The unknown is really daunting for me at this
point. If I missed saying good-bye to anyone please forgive me, as I was
totally overwhelmed at the end."

8\. **Ninety - Nines Hold Annual Conference in Washington, DC**

By Barbara Harris-Para

![](media/image16.jpeg){width="1.8131944444444446in"
height="2.3569444444444443in"}

**U.S. Senator John Glenn and his wife, Annie Glenn, are shown at the
Ninety-Nines Conference, where Mrs. Glenn was honored for her many years
of support for her husband, a former astronaut.**

***Editor's Note:** The Ninety-Nines is a woman's flying organization
that was started by Amelia Earhart, in 1929, at Curtiss Field Valley
Stream, Long Island, NY. Invitations were sent out to the 117 licensed
women pilots at the time, and 99 women responded - thus the name of the
organization was born. It now has more than 5500 members worldwide on
every continent.** ***

This year's conference was quite different from last year's in New
Zealand, but Washington, DC is a perfect place to convene in the U.S.
Washington is always bustling, no matter what time of the year you
visit, and summer is no exception. This year's early July date allowed
us to see the fireworks over the capitol for the Fourth of July
celebration on the dinner cruise.

During our meeting schedule we spent an evening with former **Senator
Bob Dole** in the Watergate complex, and veterans from various
organizations including Women Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPs). Senator
Dole gave a wonderful accounting of what it meant to him to have so many
experienced pilots in the room from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He
also gave a short talk about his own experiences during World War II.

![](media/image17.jpeg){width="1.8229166666666667in"
height="2.2291666666666665in"}

**U.S. Senator John Glenn is shown chatting with some of the attendees
at this year's Ninety-Nines Conference in Washington, DC.**

At each conference, members of the group are recognized during the
Amelia Earhart Scholarship Dinner for advancements in their aviation
careers. This year was no exception. Many of these ladies already fly
for commercial companies but want to get a new type of rating or other
advancement. There is also a scholarship that helps with research
projects that concern aviation. In the past, scholarships to study such
topics as career training, physiological effects on pilots, and history
events have been awarded.

The Awards Banquet dinner is the completion of the conference, and
during this time awards are presented to individuals who have shaped
aviation history or events. This year U.S. Senator John Glenn's wife,
**Annie Glenn,** received the Katharine B. Wright Award for her many
years of support of an aviation career individual. The George Palmer
Putnam 49 ½ Award (husbands of 99s are called 49 ½s) went to husbands of
dynamic women who have supported and moved the 99s into worldwide
acclaim. The winners were **Bob Feigenbaum,** whose wife worked
tirelessly at Amelia Earhart's Birthplace (Atchison, Kansas) and **Ed
Sharp,** whose wife **Beverley Sharp** was president of the group from
1998-2000 and was extremely active in many areas.

The Technical Center has a few 99s that participate in many of these
events. They are **Dot Buckanin**, Garden State Chapter Chair, **Rosanne
Weiss** and **Barbara Harris-Para**, a former chapter chair, and now
Governor of the New York / New Jersey Section of the 99s.

9\. Members of The Aero Club of Pennsylvania Visit the Tech Center

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image18.jpeg){width="3.1125in" height="2.3375in"}

Members of the Aero Club of Pennsylvania enjoyed a recent tour of the
Technical Center. The club president, Walter Ellis, organized the trip
and tested out some new ADS-B equipment.

Arriving by auto as well as private aircraft, several members of the
Aero Club of Pennsylvania visited the Technical Center in late
September. Those arriving by air were able to fly in and park by the FAA
ramp. Attendees arrived from both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some of
the delegation are also members of the Tech Center Flying Club.

![](media/image19.jpeg){width="2.70625in" height="2.020138888888889in"}

The Aero Club, organized in December 1909, is one of the nation\'s
oldest continuously operating aviation clubs. In 1910, Henry S. Gratz,
its First Vice-President, presented a 35,000 cubic foot balloon with a
capacity of three people to the club. The club honored the Wright
Brothers 31 st anniversary of their historic flight by sending them a
telegram.

![](media/image20.jpeg){width="2.8625in" height="1.9527777777777777in"}

In 1950 an Aero Memorial was erected on Logan Circle, in Philadelphia,
near the entrance to the Franklin Institute. This memorial sponsored by
the club honors fliers lost during World War I and World War II.

![](media/image21.jpeg){width="3.0625in" height="1.7555555555555555in"}

Members of this organization need not be pilots. Pilots and those
interested in aviation enjoy the friendship and join one another in
"fostering aviation awareness for its members and the general public."
The club also co-sponsors FAA Safety Seminars and awards scholarships to
aviation students. Annual silent auctions are held to help fund these
scholarships. More information can be found on the web:
<http://www.aeroclubpa.org/history.html>.

![](media/image22.jpeg){width="2.5625in" height="1.5430555555555556in"}

The enthusiasm of the group was outstanding throughout the day at the
Tech Center and attendees will "spread the word" about the research we
are accomplishing and its effect on the field of aviation.

10\. **Lehigh University Students Visit the Tech Center**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image23.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5208333333333335in"}

Thousands of recent college graduates are now challenged by the "real
world." Although most graduates have a career choice in mind they are
still exploring their options regarding employment.

Such is true of **Professor Terry Hart's** (*see Terry Hart\'s biography
below*) engineering and aeronautical juniors and seniors at Lehigh
University. A former NASA astronaut, Hart contacted the Technical Center
recently to arrange a visit for some of his "top seniors" who were
anxious to talk on a "highly technical level" with some of our engineers
and also experience applications in the aviation world. The group was
already familiar with complex engineering, aerodynamics and the world of
air traffic.

![](media/image24.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.3645833333333335in"}

After they visited the 177 th Air National Guard, Technical Center
Managing Director for Integrated Engineering Services**, John Wiley,**
welcomed them with an overview of the research and development work that
is taking place at the Tech Center. He also discussed options for
engineering students. During this time, **Mike Magrogan** and **Huy
Dao** presented applications of data collection, navigation, and math
modeling.

![](media/image25.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5625in"}

**Allan Abramowitz** presented examples of structural applications in
aircraft crashworthiness, including research being conducted on the
impact to the human body, and the construction of seats in an aircraft.
They also visited the "crashworthiness yard" to see the results of some
of our previous drop tests.

![](media/image26.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.4270833333333335in"}

**Harry Webster** gave the students a tour of the Airflow Induction
(wind tunnel) Building (Building 204). The building contains a
5.5-foot-diameter subsonic wind tunnel and a low-turbulence, low-speed
wind tunnel. The 5.5-foot wind tunnel has been used for a variety of
research applications. For example, it has been used to test airport
runway signs to determine the design requirements needed to withstand
turbine engine jet blasts and simulated in-flight testing of handheld
fire extinguishers used in general aviation aircraft. The
low-turbulence, low-speed wind tunnel has been used to accurately
calibrate airflow and velocity devices, and is now configured to conduct
model testing.

Webster also showed them the Environmental Test Chamber. The
environmental test chamber is designed to simulate preset temperature,
humidity, and air pressure (altitude) conditions. Chamber controllers
can be programmed to simulate an entire flight from takeoff to
climb-out, cruise, approach, and landing. The test chamber measures 72 x
71 x 93 inches. The environmental chamber has been used to study the
behavior of in-flight fires at altitude, to evaluate the performance of
wing ice detectors and to calibrate various environmental sensors.
Currently, a 17-foot 3-inch fuel tank resides inside of the chamber for
use in a variety of fuel flammability and fuel tank inerting
experiments.

![](media/image27.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.4895833333333335in"}

Cameras were flashing as the students approached the world's first
full-scale airport pavement test machine, the National Airport Pavement
Test Machine, which was built in the late 1990s by the FAA and the
Boeing Corporation. They were in awe, not only at the size of the
machine, but also how it was composed. **Murphy Flynn** explained how
the pavement test machine provides high quality, accelerated test data
to engineers who design runways that are capable of handling super-jumbo
jets.

![](media/image28.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5208333333333335in"}

The day concluded at the hangar ramp where **Bill Cavage, Jr.** spoke to
Hart and the students about fuel tank safety and stress load testing. He
took them into the B747 so they could observe how testing is
accomplished.

In a letter, Hart later commended the presenters from the FAA for the
excellent job they did in enlightening his students to the opportunities
that lie ahead. He said he is looking forward to a future visit here
with another class.

![](media/image29.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5208333333333335in"}

 

 

![](media/image30.jpeg){width="2.2395833333333335in"
height="2.7083333333333335in"}

Biography - Terry J. Hart\
NASA Astronaut (Former)

**PERSONAL DATA**: Born October 27, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Married to Mary Jane McKeever of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have a
one-year old son, and Terry has two adult daughters. Recreational
interests include golf and woodworking.

**EDUCATION**: Graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, in 1964; received a bachelor of science degree in
mechanical engineering from Lehigh University in 1968, a master of
science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in 1969, a master of science in electrical engineering from
Rutgers University in 1978, and an honorary doctorate of engineering
from Lehigh University in 1988.

**ORGANIZATIONS**: Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Tau
Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Delta Upsilon.

**SPECIAL HONORS**: Awarded the National Defense Medal, NASA Space
Flight Medal and named Outstanding Officer of Undergraduate Pilot
Training Class in 1970, Rutgers Distinguished Alumnus Award, Pride of
Pennsylvania Award, and the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal.

**EXPERIENCE**: Hart entered on active duty with the Air Force reserve
in June 1969. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Moody Air
Force Base, Georgia, in December 1970, and from then until 1973, flew
F-106 interceptors for the Air Defense Command at Tyndall Air Force
Base, Florida, at Loring Air Force Base, Maine, and at Dover Air Force
Base, Delaware. In 1973, he joined the New Jersey Air National Guard and
continued flying with the Guard until 1985, retiring in 1990. He has
logged 3,000 hours flying time \-- 2,400 hours in jets. From 1968 to
1978, Hart was employed as a member of the Technical Staff of Bell
Telephone Laboratories, where he received 2 patents. Subsequently, Hart
held a number of engineering management positions at AT&T and retired in
2004 as president of Loral Skynet, the Telstar satellite network.
Professor Hart is currently teaching aerospace engineering at his alma
mater, Lehigh University.

**NASA EXPERIENCE**: NASA selected Mr. Hart as an astronaut candidate in
January 1978. In August 1979, he completed a 1-year training and
evaluation period, making him eligible for flight assignment on future
Space Shuttle crews. Mr. Hart was a member of the support crews for
STS-1, STS-2, STS-3, and STS-7. He was Ascent and Orbit CAPCOM with the
Mission Control Team for those flights. Mr. Hart flew as a mission
specialist on STS-41C (April 6-13, 1984) and has logged a total of 168
hours in space.

**SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE**: STS 41-C Challenger launched from Kennedy
Space Center, Florida, on April 6, 1984. The crew included Captain
Robert L. Crippen (spacecraft commander), Mr. F. R. (Dick) Scobee
(pilot), and fellow mission specialist, Dr. G. D. (Pinky) Nelson and Dr.
Jr. D. A. (Ox) van Hoften. During this mission the crew successfully
deployed the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF); retrieved the
ailing Solar Maximum Satellite, repaired it on board Challenger, and
replaced it in orbit using the robot arm called the Remote Manipulator
System (RMS). The mission also included flight-testing of Manned
Maneuvering Units (MMU\'s) in two extravehicular activities (EVA\'s);
operation of the Cinema 360 and IMAX Camera Systems, as well as a Bee
Hive Honeycomb Structures student experiment. Mission duration was
7-days before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April
13, 1984.

11\. **Mercer County Community College Students, Instructors Visit**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image31.jpeg){width="3.725in" height="2.7895833333333333in"}

Several New Jersey colleges have become increasingly interested in
providing education for students planning a career in the field of
aviation. Several of these colleges request visits to the Technical
Center to allow students to see first hand the research and development
taking place in the aviation field. Among those institutions is Mercer
County Community College (MCCC).

![](media/image32.jpeg){width="3.08125in" height="2.279861111111111in"}

In 1966, a merger was formed with Trenton Junior College to establish
MCCC. Located in Central Jersey, MCCC has two campuses: a 292-acre
campus in West Windsor, N.J., and the James Kerney Campus in downtown
Trenton. MCCC offers learning opportunities for all segments of the
county's population. Children, teens, traditional-age college students,
the unemployed, working professionals, new immigrants, and senior
citizens all find educational opportunities at MCCC.

  ------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------
  ![](media/image33.jpeg){width="1.6125in"   Dr. Thomas N. Wilfrid, Acting President MCCC,
  height="2.0625in"}                         states: "Mercer serves over 30,000 people each
                                             year in our associate degree programs, credit
                                             and noncredit certificate programs, continuing
                                             education, customized training for businesses,
                                             career training, youth programs, and summer
                                             camps for children. MCCC\'s vast array of
                                             credit courses can be applied towards both
                                             career and transfer programs."

                                              
  ------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------

![](media/image34.jpeg){width="2.35in" height="1.7597222222222222in"}

Late this summer, **Dianne Loving**, instructor from the MCCC pilot
program brought a group of 12 prospective professional pilots and
another instructor to visit the Technical Center. **Ginger Cairnes**,
Visitor Program Manager, assisted by **Barbara Harris-Para** (who is
also a flight instructor), hosted the group while they explored the many
aspects of research being done here. The following facilities and
programs provided outstanding support to help peak the students love for
aviation: Tower/TRACON Modeling and Simulation Facility, Free Flight
Technology Integration Laboratory, Automated Dependant
Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) program, flying laboratories, Air Flow
Induction Test Facility (wind tunnel), High Performance Research Vehicle
(HPRV) and the crashworthiness program.

![](media/image35.jpeg){width="1.8097222222222222in"
height="2.0854166666666667in"}

Students stated that the visit provided them with a much broader
perspective regarding the field of aviation, and the vast array of
research taking place.

12\. **Oakcrest High School Students Visit the Technical Center**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image36.jpeg){width="2.4444444444444446in"
height="1.8333333333333333in"}

**Students were amazed with the capabilities in the Tower/TRACON's
"Out-the-Tower View".**

It would seem quite remarkable in today's world to find a group of high
school juniors and seniors who willingly devote their free time after
school to enhancing their academic experience -- unless you are talking
about the Oakcrest High School Math and Engineering Club. Members of
this club meet twice a month.

![](media/image37.jpeg){width="2.8777777777777778in"
height="2.158333333333333in"}

**John Wilks explains why we "model"**

 

The club members are interested not only in math, but also in aviation
and aeronautical engineering. **Rocco Policarpo**, the club president,
helps arrange trips and coordinates activities that depict the
correlation between discrete mathematics and its application in the real
world. He contacted me recently because he and his club members felt
that the Tech Center would be a great place for their club to visit and
interact with employees. With the sponsorship of Oakcrest High
Schoolteacher, **Stacey Culleny**, a trip was arranged that would
include focus on math modeling as a means of evaluating the "potential
effects of terrain, buildings, and other obstructions and/or siting
mistakes". The students were also introduced to how math is heavily used
in navigation systems performance and data evaluation.

![](media/image38.jpeg){width="2.6875in" height="2.0180555555555557in"}

**Chuck Milk discusses the features of the system in the ETMS lab.**

 

Other examples displayed and discussed in the labs were: functions of
air traffic control; the analog world and digital convenience; examples
of analog phenomenon such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, speed
and velocity; dynamics of motion and use of polar coordinates; radar
processing and digital signals; and algorithms and the use of
warning/alert messages.

![](media/image39.jpeg){width="2.5555555555555554in"
height="1.9166666666666667in"}

**Ed Gaguski and Sue Kleva assist students as they try their skills in
handing off aircraft in the STARS lab.**

 

Areas visited included Tower/TRACON Simulation and Modeling, navigation
labs in the hangar, cockpit simulators in the hangar, the Standard
Terminal Replacement System (STARS), and the Enhanced Traffic Management
System (ETMS).

![](media/image40.jpeg){width="2.5055555555555555in"
height="1.7097222222222221in"}

**Mike Magrogan illustrates the use of data collection in respect to
navigation of aircraft.**

 

The following employees were responsible for making this visit such an
outstanding success: **Rodger Bawgus**, **John Wilks**, **Huy Dao**,
**Michael Magrogan**, **Lee Sui**, **EdGaguski**, **Sue Kleva**,
**Madurai Vaidyanathan**, **Allan Manalang**, **J.T. Skarda**, **Al
Rehman**, **Calab Bonilla,** and **Chuck Milk**.

** **

![](media/image41.jpeg){width="1.7416666666666667in"
height="2.3222222222222224in"}

**Students study the Control Interbus Hardware in the Cockpit Simulator
Lab.**

** **

![](media/image42.jpeg){width="3.33125in" height="2.502083333333333in"}

**Practice for two budding pilots on the Embraer170 Cockpit Simulator.**

13\. Vicki Cox Visits the Technical Center

By Pete Castellano

![](media/image43.jpeg){width="2.453472222222222in"
height="1.979861111111111in"}

*Editor's Note: ATO Chief Operating Officer Russ Chew recently named
Vicki Cox the ATO's new Vice President for Operations Planning.*

On October 5, Vicki Cox, (then) Acting Vice President for Operations
Planning, visited the Technical Center. Her day began with meetings with
Center Director Dr. Wilson Felder, and other senior managers. At 10:30,
she attended the closing ceremony for Hispanic Heritage Month, where she
addressed employees along with Dr. Felder.

![](media/image44.jpeg){width="2.9138888888888888in"
height="2.466666666666667in"}

At 1:00 pm, she held an all-hands meeting in the Technical Center
Atrium. The meeting lasted nearly an hour and a half, and covered a wide
range of topics of concern to Center employees.

![](media/image45.jpeg){width="2.95625in" height="2.0097222222222224in"}

 

Cox has been holding small group and division level meetings in
conjunction with the Model Workplace Committee. The meetings have given
her the opportunity to speak one-on-one with many employees, and she has
learned a lot about us as a result.

![](media/image46.jpeg){width="2.8in" height="2.3020833333333335in"}

Several slides and handouts were utilized during the meeting. The first
was a summary of the eight Strategic Focus areas for Operations Planning
for FY 07 as outlined in the Operations Planning Strategic Map. The
areas of strategic focus are: 1) Bridging the gap to NGATS, 2) Executing
the Operational Evolution Partnership, 3) Leading ATO innovation, 4)
Developing and implementing meaningful metrics, 5) Continuing support
for Agency-wide, budgeting and staffing forecasts, 6) Implementing a
viable continuity plan for catastrophic events, 7) Continuing to
identify ways to increase productivity and reduce costs, and 8)
Providing superior, well defined services to our internal customers.

![](media/image47.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5416666666666665in"}

Operations Planning has launched a new on-line communications website at
<http://ipm.faa.gov/ato/home.php>. This site is designed to provide ATO
Operations Planning employees with information on what is happening in
the FAA, the ATO, and Operations Planning.

Two Directorates within Operations Planning have been merged. The former
Directorates of Strategy, and Planning and Performance Analysis, have
been merged into one Directorate for Strategy and Performance Analysis,
headed by David Chin. In addition, several new employees within Ops
Planning were introduced, and some notable accomplishments on the part
of the Technical Center as well as Ops planning were highlighted.

![](media/image48.jpeg){width="3.4625in" height="2.292361111111111in"}

Cox then spent some time discussing the Operational Evolution
Partnership, or OEP. The OEP is a guide or pathway, with specific
strategies on how we will implement the next generation air traffic
system (NGATS). The full presentation can be found on the Ops Planning
Website. The meeting ended with a Q & A session, which was very well
received.

![](media/image49.jpeg){width="2.8243055555555556in" height="2.1375in"}

**14. FAA Intern Programs Provide Great Experience for Students**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image50.jpeg){width="4.0in" height="3.0in"}

The Technical Center intern program is an opportunity for students, who
major in several different fields and related disciplines, to merge
their academic studies with work experience. Intern positions were
posted at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Rowan, Rutgers,
Howard, The College of NJ, NJ Institute of Technology and Stockton
University. Recruitment and selection consists of visits to the
University of Pennsylvania, Villanova, Temple and Drexel to meet with
their career services departments and the heads of their engineering and
computer science departments.

![](media/image51.jpeg){width="3.84375in" height="2.78125in"}

FAA Headquarters also manages intern and Minority Serving Institution
(MSI) programs, whose objectives are to expose minority students and
students with disabilities to the aviation industry, research and
development and other career fields that will allow them to make
educated career choices. These programs include the Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCU); Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI);
Asian-American/Pacific Islanders Program (AAPI); Tribal Colleges and
Universities (TCU); and People with Disabilities (PWD). Through these
programs, the FAA seeks to create a pool of potential future employees
who will consider the FAA as a serious career choice because they
already had a positive and meaningful FAA work experience through the
intern program.

![](media/image52.jpeg){width="2.484722222222222in"
height="1.863888888888889in"}

In the MSI Intern Program, students may earn academic credit for their
participation in the internship during the fall, spring or summer
sessions. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale is
required as well as enrollment in a US accredited college/university.
This includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

![](media/image53.jpeg){width="2.28125in" height="1.6861111111111111in"}

![](media/image54.jpeg){width="2.277083333333333in"
height="1.6020833333333333in"}

The FAA hosted 54 MSI interns this summer (41 Headquarters and 13 field
students including the Tech Center). The Tech Center hired a total of 26
students earlier this year to participate in its local program.

![](media/image55.jpeg){width="2.6277777777777778in"
height="2.0097222222222224in"}

Intern enrichment activities included visits to either the Reagan
National or the Philadelphia Tower; mentorship assignments; attending a
Congressional hearing and a presentation on how bills become laws; and a
job fair. Other activities at the Tech Center included visits to the Air
Traffic Control labs, visits to the Airport & Aircraft Safety Research &
Development facilities and participation in the Aviation Enrichment
Mini-Symposium (AEMS).

![](media/image56.jpeg){width="2.8305555555555557in"
height="1.9777777777777779in"}

The experiences the interns gained at both locations, the motivation
provided, the varied selection of assignments, and the opportunity to
include such experiences on a personal resume are invaluable to students
as they prepare for the transition from school to work.

![](media/image57.jpeg){width="1.4875in"
height="1.1159722222222221in"}![](media/image58.jpeg){width="1.5034722222222223in"
height="1.1236111111111111in"}![](media/image59.jpeg){width="1.5145833333333334in"
height="1.1354166666666667in"}

![](media/image60.jpeg){width="1.9006944444444445in"
height="1.1888888888888889in"}![](media/image61.jpeg){width="1.7125in"
height="1.2173611111111111in"}![](media/image62.jpeg){width="1.6958333333333333in"
height="1.2201388888888889in"}

![](media/image63.jpeg){width="1.9006944444444445in"
height="1.3131944444444446in"}![](media/image64.jpeg){width="1.8965277777777778in"
height="1.323611111111111in"}![](media/image65.jpeg){width="2.0409722222222224in"
height="1.3319444444444444in"}

15\. **Japan Looks to Technical Center for Latest Navigation
Procedures**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image66.jpeg){width="3.4375in" height="2.5833333333333335in"}

**Mike Greco discusses the Technical Center's Air Traffic Control labs
prior to the "walk-through" for Dr. Fujita.**

The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has been investigating Required
Navigation Procedures (RNAV) safety assessment methodologies in the
United States. As part of the team investigating, **Dr. Masato Fujita**
from JCAB's Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI) made a 5-day
visit to the United States. Part of his time was spent at the Technical
Center discussing separation standard minima for RNAV routes as well as
other safety assessment processes. He was also interested in the type of
validation processes we use. More specifically, as a mathematician, Dr.
Fujita was interested in the technical issues for calculation
methodology of collision risks and the software used for calculation.

His first day was spent discussing separation standards with **Brian
Colamosca**. The morning of day two of his visit, **Mike Greco** and
**Ginger Cairnes** took Fujita through the following air traffic control
labs: Display System Replacement (DSR), Standard Terminal Arrival
Replacement System (STARS), Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS),
Advanced Technology Oceanic Procedures (ATOP), weather labs,and the
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) laboratory.

**John Wiley** met with him during lunch and gave an overview of the
research being done at the Tech Center. He also answered questions
Fujita had from his visit through our labs. Later that afternoon **John
Geyser** toured him through the Global 5000 N47in the hangar. The day
concluded with discussions and presentations in the NavAids and avionics
area by **Mike Magrogan**, **L.C. Lowman** and **Jim D'Ottavi**.

 

**Monitoring Agency and Traffic Flow Management**

A second group of aviation officials from Japan also visited the Tech
Center recently. Represented were the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau
(JCAB), **Takashi Kubota**, Special Assistant to the Director of the ATC
Division, and **Takashi Imuta**, Chief, Airspace Safety Section, ATC
Division; Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA**)** Japan, **Yoshiro
Nakatsuji**, Director, **Hirokazu (Mike) Maekawa**, ATM Specialist; and
**Hiroshi Matsuda**, ATM Specialist; and the Electronic Navigation
Research Institute (ENRI), **Dr. Sakae Nagaoka**.

The visit, part of a 3-fold visit to the United States, included 2
different missions; first to study the Monitoring Agency that JCAB is
planning to develop, and second, to study the new air traffic flow
management program the FAA is developing, the Enhanced Traffic
Management System (ETMS) and test processes.

After watching the Tech Center Overview DVD, the group met with **Dot
Buckanin**, **Bob Fietkiewicz**, **John Hensyl** and **Brian Colamosca**
for discussions on the work being performed at the Tech Center. They
also answered questions the group had. Following this session the groups
met according to their "mission" with Colamosca, Fietkiewicz and Hensyl.
Because of an expressed interest during the welcome briefing regarding
the Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, **Mike
Prata** and **Jack Beilmann** agreed to a presentation in that
laboratory.

Our visitors were extremely impressed with the material presented, and
may arrange a follow-up visit to the Tech Center.

 

![](media/image67.jpeg){width="4.0in" height="3.0in"}

**Dr. Fujita pauses before asking Tri Nguyen a question about live
weather as displayed in the Weather and Radar Processors (WARP) Lab at
the Technical Center.**

16\. Artisan of the Month

By John Gerke

 

As we go through our workdays at the Technical Center, we sometimes
forget the obvious fact that there are people all around us. What do I
mean by people? What makes up a person? I believe it is a combination of
experiences, beliefs, opinions, and talents among many other things.

With that said how could we work around so many others and not even
really know who they are? Doesn't it seem like such a waste not to know
the essence or ability of the person standing beside you at the copying
machine?

Each of us has opened a window or two in our time. Perhaps it is about
time to open another. I think it would be interesting to learn the
collective talents and abilities of those who surround us.

I am more than sure we have an impressive collection of artisans in
their own right. I am not only talking about just those who can paint or
draw or sculpt, but those who can design, build, and create.

What is an artisan? To me it is someone who can create with wood or
words. It is someone who can make another person think or appreciate in
a different way. It is someone who makes us look at our everyday lives
from a whole different perspective.

Now, how do we go about finding the Artisans of the Technical Center? Do
we observe cubicle and office walls and determine who should or should
not be included? Should we limit the search by department, rank or
stature?

If we really want to find the artisans in our midst, we only need to
look at one thing. Who places a hobby or craft high on their list of
priorities? Who lives to write another sentence or crochet another
quilt? Who, in the quiet morning hours, forgoes discussion of the
weather and speaks only of a distinct color they discovered in some
forsaken meager shop?

Those who venture beyond the normal realms are the artisans that I speak
of. Those who design and create from nothing and when finished, make the
rest of us wonder why we all don't have such ability and talent.

Oh sure, they may never earn a living from their passion and desire, but
that isn't the point is it. They gain a pleasure from their crafty
experience that is beyond words. A true artisan keeps fine control upon
their work. In its birth and growth, the creation becomes an essential
and defined part of the master.

In truth, the completed work is not to be lessened, and not to be
judged. The finished work has all of the breath and soul that the owner
possessed at the moment of conception. Passion filled all humanity gains
from the ultimate design.

So where does this all leave us? The Technical Center being as vast and
dispersed a place as it is, who should be the First Artisan of the
Month? I think that is easy. I believe the first artisan should be all
of us who work here.

Do we not create daily in our jobs? Do we not improvise and manufacture
out of nothing more times than we care to admit? From the secretaries to
the managers, we create constantly. We are all artisans in our own
right. Do we not make each other think?

Who do you think should be the artisan next issue? Should it be someone
who creates a sandwich, or a person who can play a musical note? Who do
you think the most deserving artisan is? Let us know. We would love to
bring his or her story to the attention of everyone.

Until then, know that you have just learned to look at yourself and
others in a different way. Take a moment and look around. This time
though, look past the form and look at the ability and gift. Take care.

Editor's Note : Inside the Fence would like to highlight individual
artisans from the Technical Center in future issues. In order to do
that, we need you to let us know who they are. Don't be shy; it is okay
to nominate yourself! Send your choice for future "artisans of the
month" to [mailto:stan.ciurczak@faa.gov](mailto:stan.ciurczak@faa.gov).

17\. **Fire Safety Expert Addresses Asian Aircraft Materials
Conference**

By Pete Castellano

**Dick Hill**, FAA Program Manager for Fire and Cabin Safety, recently
addressed the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2006 Asia Conference (Hong Kong,
September 27-29). The Aircraft Interiors Expo is the world's foremost
conference and exhibition on aircraft interiors. This particular
conference was geared toward the Asian Pacific market, the most rapidly
expanding aviation market in the world.

In his presentation titled "The FAA's Fire and Cabin Safety Research &
Development (R&D) Program," Hill reviewed recent fire safety R&D
activities conducted at the Technical Center. These include the
development of improved fire tests for hidden materials, hidden
in-flight firefighting, initial fire tests on structural composite
materials and halon replacement for engines and cargo compartments. He
also described the activities of the FAA-sponsored international working
groups on material fire tests and aircraft systems fire safety, aiming
to attract new members to these groups.

Hill has been project manager for many fire safety projects that cover
all aspects of in-flight and post-crash aircraft fire protection. He has
authored more than 100 technical reports and papers; and made more than
50 technical presentations at major national and international
conferences. He has assisted in the investigations of numerous airplane
accidents where fire was a factor, both nationally and worldwide. He has
worked at the Technical Center for 36 years, and continues to be an
incredible asset and contributor to our success as an organization.

18\. **Aviation Direct Access Screening Underway**

By Mary Lalasis

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a new program
called \"Aviation Direct Access Screening,\" which requires the TSA to
conduct random screening at entry points onto the Air Operations Area.
Some of these check points are located on Technical Center property.

The purpose of the screening is to detect prohibited items such as
explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and/or IED compounds,
firearms and ammunition, incendiaries (excluding lighters and matches),
hazardous materials and suspicious or dangerous items that, by their
nature, are not consistent with the items individuals normally need to
have in a secure area or an Airport Operations Area.

Screening is not intrusive and employees are asked to cooperate should
they enter a checkpoint. Questions may be directed to Airport Security
Inspector **John Anderson** at extension 5-5069 (609-407-5069).

19\. **'07 Construction Projects**

By Jason McGlynn

 

If the William J. Hughes Technical Center is to remain a
state-of-the-art, nationally recognized facility for aviation safety
research, naturally the Technical Center must be dedicated to making
constant improvements to its physical infrastructure. In an ongoing
effort to achieve this goal, the Tech Center is undertaking a number of
important projects. One is to renovate and combine the chemistry and
fire science laboratories into a single facility during 2007. Another is
to build a 10,000 square-foot modular office / locker room facility for
the U.S. Coast Guard.

**Chemistry Laboratory**

The Chemistry Laboratory, Building 277, is used for fire testing and gas
toxicity analysis in support of the FAA's fire safety program. In
response to heightened congressional interest and the Aviation Safety
Research Act of 1988 (PL-100-591), the fire safety program was expanded
to include fire-resistant materials research. The existing laboratory
facilities are fully utilized for chemical and gas toxicity analyses,
while fabrication and fire testing of advanced materials is conducted in
several different buildings throughout the Tech Center research and
development area. This is an inefficient and costly use of space because
chemicals, samples and supplies must be transported between buildings.

According to the statement of work, the objectives of the expansion are
to: 1) consolidate existing research activities in fire resistant
materials into one location to provide full capability for future work,
2) more effectively utilize available space, and 3) correct deficiencies
to the existing mechanical and electrical systems and components.
Accordingly, approximately 3,000 square-feet of dedicated laboratory
space will be added to the building and approximately 2,000 square-feet
will be renovated in the existing building. The expansion will increase
research laboratory and office space for fire research as well as
improve the support of fire safety activities.

The building design will be completed in June 2007, while the projected
construction will be completed by September 2008. The expansion is
estimated to cost \$2 million.

**USCG Expansion**

The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station at the Technical Center is expanding as
a result of a New Homeland Security mission. Because 70 additional
aircrew and support personnel will be brought onto the base, the FAA is
supporting this mission by constructing a 10,000 square foot modular
office/locker room facility. This new temporary facility will be located
between Building 301 (hangar) and the UCCG Air Station Building.
Construction of their new facility began in September and was due to be
completed by December 2006.

**20. New Cooperative Research and Development Agreement Implemented**

By Deborah Germak

The FAA recently entered into a Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (CRDA) with Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems,
LLC (ACSS). The collaborative research is in surveillance and is an
excellent example of leveraging resources by combining ACSS' avionics
development experience with the FAA's flying laboratories and
flight-testing expertise.

ACSS currently is in the process of developing Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) functionality, including three initial
ADS-B applications. This functionality is incorporated into ACSS's
third-generation Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).

The objective of this collaborative partnership is to develop
operational knowledge and three validated ADS-B procedures: (1) merging
and spacing, (2) surface area movement management and (3) cockpit
display of traffic information (CDTI) assisted visual spacing (CAVS).

The Government's Principal Investigator is **Carl Jezierski** at the
Technical Center, and **Ronald Scott** is the Principal Investigator at
ACSS. This CRDA was awarded on September 21 and is effective for 2
years.

If you have any questions regarding this CRDA, please contact **Deborah
Germak**, the FAA Technology Transfer Program Manager, at (609) 485-9862
or <deborah.germak@faa.gov>.

21\. **Little Flyers Academy Child Care Center Expansion**

By Jacqueline Rehmann

 

This past September, Little Flyers Academy (LFA) Child Care Center,
located at the Technical Center, welcomed its fall classes as usual. But
there was something different, something new. In addition to the
toddlers and pre-school aged children, two new classrooms welcomed
infants and 'twaddlers.' It was the first expansion of the childcare
center since it first opened its doors more than 15 years ago.

What happened to spur this expansion? Then Senior Corporate Officer
**Ron Esposito**, responding to yet another request from members of the
LFA Board of Directors for more space, authorized an employee survey to
determine if there was a need for more child care slots and, if so, for
what age groups.

The former Office of Enterprise Performance, now Organizational
Excellence Group, lead the survey team effort for preparing, conducting,
analyzing and reporting. Results quickly revealed a need for infant care
up to age 18 months. Acting on the survey results, the survey team
prepared a business case for the Senior Leadership Team to determine the
most expedient and cost effective solution. The result was the present
expansion, which extends the existing square footage of the center to
include space for an infant room and a 'twaddler' room. (In case you are
wondering, twaddlers are babies who are beginning to crawl or walk. As
they get more mobile, they can get into mischief, and so they are
promoted into the next classroom where their exuberance can be
constructively channeled.)

**John Fidler**, a Tech Center architect who is experienced in the
building of childcare facilities (he designed several while employed by
the DOD), laid out a plan that addressed the classroom needs for safety,
security and efficiency. It also increased storage space for the entire
childcare center.

The result was two new bright and beautiful classrooms, and less clutter
everywhere. The project began and finished on time. It took 6 months,
which was the business case and architect's original estimate.

Successful, ongoing fundraising sponsored by the LFA Board of Directors
ensured that funding for needed supplies and furniture was available.
Shortly after the rooms were completed, the State of NJ licensed the new
classrooms. As with any construction project, it is easy to forget the
growing pains. But there were plenty and they were addressed quickly and
with aplomb, thanks to the capable leadership of LFA Director, **Marcia
Fox**. Now, working moms and dads can do so without worry -their
children are safe, close, and well cared for. It doesn't get any better
than that.

22\. **EMAS Makes Another Save**

By Pete Castellano

 

On October 13, a Gulfstream G-II, carrying seven passengers, including
Yankees third baseman **Alex Rodriguez**, overran the runway at Bob Hope
Airport in Burbank, California, and came to a safe halt by a specially
engineered cellular concrete runway arresting system. None of the
passenger or crew suffered injuries, and the plane had only minor
damage. This was the fifth aircraft stopped by an Engineered Materials
Arresting System, or EMAS, since the FAA approved installation at U.S.
airports.

Earlier this year, on July 17, an EMAS stopped a business jet whose
brakes failed during landing at the Greenville Downtown Airport in South
Carolina. The Dassault Falcon 900 came to a controlled stop within 100
feet of the threshold when the plane rolled into an EMAS at the end of
the runway. The five people aboard were not hurt, and the jet suffered
no damage.

Working with personnel at the Technical Center, the Port Authority of NY
and NJ and the University of Dayton, a company called Engineered
Arresting Systems Corporation (ESCO) developed EMAS to safely decelerate
aircraft coming off runways at high speeds. The EMAS program has been a
tremendous accomplishment for the FAA in advancing the safety of the
flying public.

23\. **Remembering Our Veterans**

By Stan Ciurczak

 

If you are a federal employee, there is at least a 25 percent chance you
are also a veteran.

The Office of Personnel Management recently released the FY-05 Disabled
Veterans Affirmative Action Program (DVAAP) report, which documented a 6
percent increase in the number of disabled veterans working for the
federal government. The number of veterans hired into full-time
positions also rose sharply, increasing by more than 21 percent.

Other DVAAP report highlights include the following statistics:

\* Total veterans employment increased to 456,254 out of a 1.8 million
workforce in FY-05

\* Total employment of disabled veterans increased to 92,642 in FY 2005,
from 87,390 in FY-04

\* Total new-hires of veterans increased to 48,257 in FY 2005, from
43,262 in FY-04

\* Total employment of 30-percent-or-more-disabled veterans increased to
46,727 in FY 2005, from 42,100 in FY-04

OPM\'s report also notes the increased use by managers and hiring
officials of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) to bring
qualified veterans into federal positions. Under the Act, 14,273
veterans were selected for federal jobs in FY 2005; in FY 2004, 12,211
veterans were hired under the VEOA. Hiring officials also tapped the
Veterans Recruitment Appointment authority in FY 2005 to hire more than
7,700 qualified individuals.

The report can be found at

<http://www.opm.gov/veterans/dvaap/2005/DVAAP-FY2005.pdf>.

 

+---+---+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   |   | ***This is something to make you think...***                        |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10    |
|   |   | minutes.                                                            |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she stays up for days on end.**                                |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\               |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You take a warm shower to help you wake up.                         |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she goes days or weeks without running water.**                |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You complain of a \"headache\", and call in sick.                   |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving           |
|   |   | forward.**                                                          |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You put on your anti war/don\'t support the Troops shirt, and go    |
|   |   | meet up with your friends.                                          |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she still fights for your right to wear that shirt.**          |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You talk trash about your \"buddies\" that aren\'t with you.        |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she knows he/she may not see some of his/her buddies again.**  |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls/handsome   |
|   |   | guys.                                                               |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she walks the streets, searching for insurgents and            |
|   |   | terrorists.**                                                       |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You complain about how hot it is.                                   |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she wears his/her heavy gear, not daring to take off his/her   |
|   |   | helmet to wipe his/her brow.**                                      |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your   |
|   |   | order wrong.                                                        |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she doesn\'t get to eat today.**                               |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.                   |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his/her    |
|   |   | weapons are clean.**                                                |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You go to the mall and get your hair redone.                        |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she doesn\'t have time to brush his/her teeth today.**         |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You\'re angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.                |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He\'s/she is told he/she will be held over an extra 2 months.**   |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You call your girlfriend/boyfriend and set a date for tonight.      |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from        |
|   |   | home.**                                                             |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.             |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He holds his letter close and smells his love\'s perfume.**       |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You roll your eyes as a baby cries.                                 |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if   |
|   |   | they\'ll ever meet.**                                               |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You criticize your government, and say that war never solves        |
|   |   | anything.                                                           |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people  |
|   |   | and remembers why he/she is fighting.**                             |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men/women like    |
|   |   | him/her.                                                            |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.**     |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You see only what the media wants you to see.                       |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she sees the broken bodies lying around him/her.**             |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don\'t.       |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she does exactly what he/she is told.**                        |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You stay at home and watch TV.                                      |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she takes whatever time he/she is given to call, write home,   |
|   |   | sleep and eat.**                                                    |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |
|   |   | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get            |
|   |   | comfortable.                                                        |
|   |   |                                                                     |
|   |   | **He/she crawls under a tank for shade and a 5-minute nap, only to  |
|   |   | be woken by gunfire.**                                              |
+---+---+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

**24. Operations Planning Launches New Employee Website**

By Pete Castellano

 

Operations Planning has launched a new on-line communications website at
<http://ipm.faa.gov/ato/home.php>. This site is designed to provide ATO
Operations Planning employees with information on what is happening in
the FAA, the ATO, and Operations Planning. It also provides on-line
access to things such as leave forms, PowerPoint templates, Human
Resources information, etc.

**Vicki Cox**, Vice President for Operations Planning, recently
announced the new site as a means to further improve communications
throughout ATO Operations Planning. She has asked that all comments or
suggestions pertaining to the website be directed to Terry Kraus at
[terry.kraus@faa.gov/](mailto:terry.kraus@faa.govterry.kraus@faa.gov/)

**25. Getting Ready for "Snow"**

By Ray Dumas

 

\"Snow\" is a simple word that conjures up a wide range of images from
beautiful landscapes, being in a warm house looking out at the snow
falling, kids having fun sledding and building snowmen. To others, the
landscape shows ice and snow on power-lines and trees that may lead to
power outages, plowing of snow in low visibility weather and sanding of
icy roads, stuck cars and accidents, or the sudden need for day care for
kids out of school.

Before too long we will encounter winter conditions. Some we can plan
for based on weather forecasts, and others that develop quickly or
unexpectedly. We provide the following information to make this as
painless as possible:

-   You can check the operating status of the Technical Center by
    calling 609-485-6100 or by checking the Center\'s website,
    <http://www.tc.faa.gov/ops/closings.htm>. For storms during the
    night, we make every effort to decide at 5:00 a.m. about delayed
    openings, or if conditions are so severe, to close the Center to all
    but essential personnel.

-   Calls to the Operations Center and the Security Console should
    **not** be made, as these lines need to remain clear for emergency
    situations.

-   On arrival, if there are limitations on where to park, the Guard at
    the gate will inform you.

-   If significant weather conditions are developing during normal
    working hours and a liberal leave policy will be encouraged,
    information will be provided over the PA system.

-   Federal employees need to get their supervisor\'s approval to take
    leave; contractor employees need to obtain the approval from their
    own contract manager.

Personnel and organizations responding to severe weather conditions on
the Center are All Star Services (the Center Operations and Maintenance
Contractor) and Fresh Cut (their snow removal subcontractor). These
personnel have contract-defined work to do, with major roads and parking
lots amongst the top priorities. During a storm event, the contractor
maintains a Command Center to orchestrate the detailed assignments to
the crews doing the snow removal and sanding work. They can be reached
at 5-6078 during a storm event and up to four hours afterwards.

Inevitably, after a storm passes through, there are litanies of odds and
ends that remain unattended or need to be redone. You can assist us by
reporting things that need attention by contacting the Trouble Desk at
5-4122 or via e-mail to 9-ACT-TROUBLEDESK/ACT/FAA.

Constructive feedback is always welcomed and is best communicated to Jim
Woerner, the contract COTR.

**26. Recent Press Activities**

Edited by Pete Castellano

**November 2006**

Public Affairs has prepared a news release announcing the winner of the
FAA's 2006 Excellence in Aviation Research Award. This year's winner is
the Department of the Navy's Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS)
Team. TAWS is a patented software safety backup system for tactical
aircraft that warns aircrews that have lost situational awareness of
impending controlled flight into terrain. The system software determines
when to provide aural and visual warnings to the pilot. The Excellence
in Aviation Research Award is given annually to individuals and/or
institutions outside of the FAA whose research contributions have
resulted in a significantly safer, more efficient national airspace
system. Once approved, the release will be sent to aviation trade press.

**November 27, 2006**

Public Affairs issued a news release to area and trade press citing the
FAA winners of the Air Transport Association and FAA Non-Destructive
Testing "Better Way" Award. The award recognizes a team of government
and airline industry individuals collaborating to advance inspection or
testing of aircraft structure, components or systems. The employees who
work at the Technical Center are **John Bakuckas**, Manager of
Structural Integrity Research for the FAA's National Aging Aircraft
Research Program; **Doug Koriakin**, an aviation research technician and
an airframe and power plant mechanic; and **Bao Mosinyi**, an FAA-Drexel
University Fellow.

**Early December 2006**

A local news release is being prepared by Public Affairs about four
scientists, who work at the Technical Center, recently cited by the
Southern Jersey Professional Societies at their annual "Engineer of the
Year" awards banquet. **John Bakuckas**, manager for structural
integrity research for the National Aging Aircraft Research Program, was
named the outstanding engineer of the year. **Dr. Stanislav Stoloarov**,
of SRA International, Inc., received the award for outstanding aviation
research (he supports the FAA fire research group). **Robert Pappas**,
manager of the National Aging Aircraft Research Program, was honored for
outstanding technical leadership. **Renee Frierson**, of the airport
safety subteam, was honored for outstanding contributions to testing or
air traffic control. The Southern Jersey Professional Societies include
the local chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) and the IEEE Computer Society.

**27. Tech Center Supports Engineers at Atlanta Hartsfield International
Airport**

By Rodney C. Guishard

Technical Center Instrument Landing System (ILS) and navigation signal
analysis experts **Dave Lamb** and **Huy Dao** were called by FAA
Atlanta regional engineers to assist in identifying a source of
interference to the ILS that supports the new 10-28 runway at Atlanta
Hartsfield International Airport. The new airport cannot realize its
full capacity unless the interference problem is solved.

Regional engineers were aware of the interference problem and had
attributed its likely source to construction related reflecting
surfaces. When these surfaces were removed, however, the interference
persisted.

Technical Center personnel, along with colleagues from Ohio University
were called to Atlanta to work with the FAA field engineers to review
and execute a plan of action to identify and rectify the problem.
Efforts involved trying to identify offending reflection sources, and
where possible, removing or mitigating them.

If this had not been possible, alternative solutions included increasing
the number of transmitting antenna array elements or modifying the
structure of the reflecting surfaces. Technical Center engineers
developed a math based computer model that can replicate expected ILS
performance based upon sitting characteristics, and is being used to
help solve the problem.

As a result of the combined team effort, proximate electrical power
lines were identified as the likely source of interference. Center
engineers have returned from Atlanta and are currently conducting
further analysis and corroborative work to validate the identified
interference source.