Narrative:

For many years avn worked on modernizing the way in which maps were created and provided to the controllers. The old way required the cutting and pasting of low altitude controller charts and creating and maintaining overlays and underlays. High altitude charts required an hour run to the regional offices and via the use of a large format copier then another hour run back to the facility. High altitude charts also required the development of overlays and underlays. Not only did this take a lot of time; we had to depend that the charts would arrive in enough time to get the work done. On an occasion the charts would be late and the maps would not be up in time. Since 2000; management systems branch (avn) had developed and supported the cmap (microstation) program. This included hardware and software. The hardware included an intergraph workstation 400 mhz pentium or better 128 ram; 10.1 gb hard drive or greater; one 21 monitor and 100 mb iomega zip drive. The software installed on the computer was windows nt 4.0; microstation southeast; aeronautical mapping system 6.0; iplot server 9.0; and iplot client 9.0. Additionally; one HP3500c plotter with a 54 plot area with 600 dpi and some plotter supplies. This cmap program included the modernization of the controller charting system and NOAA developed digital controller charts to work in conjunction with the program. This eventually included the marrying of the VFR sectionals into the cmap system. In 2007 we received our last program shipment that included an HP6100 plotter and new dell precision 390 computer with the software installed from ajr; aeronautical information management group. For ten years we; the cartographers of the FAA; have been provided the means to provide an outstanding product for the controller work force. The project as initiated and funded over the years worked well; was efficient and provided a product that cost less than the old system and was more usable that the old product. Cmap provided a universal system. This meant that all centers could utilize the digital product provided by NOAA. It got rid of the problems of every facility having its own system causing formatting and printing issues let alone the ability to read the master digital charts provided by NOAA. It also insured that data was where it was suppose to be on the charts and the chart said what it was suppose to say. Further reducing costs was the bulk purchase of software; computers; and plotters. This way management systems branch could provide service since everyone was using the same product. Further; potential system problems could be anticipated and address early thereby reducing potential computer down time. Today we find ourselves in a very precarious situation. Our equipment is now three years old. As you can well imagine it is starting to wear out and the programs are getting old. As a computer user you can already imagine what our problems might be. First; new aeronautical mapping system (ams) (this allows us to enter data via latitude/longitude); does not work with the new microstation software so the old system will not work for us. If we can keep the old microstation software running; it will not run on new computers as they are constituted today. So; if one of the dells breaks down a massive reprogramming of a new computer will be required to force the old program to run. This includes needing old and specialized drivers to run the old plotter. Management systems branch; now system operations (ajr-32) is trying to develop something but that is apparently still years away. There are other mapping programs out there but no group has been created to find out what would best suit our needs. Presently; there is nothing in the works to repair or replace our aging mapping system; and there doesn't seem to be anyone looking into it or concerned about the situation. In fact it appears that they know about the problem in it but there answer is to let each facility bear the brunt of the system breaking down. Plotters are old. Most have never been cleaned or serviced. No facilities have the funding for repairs; let alone the replacement of; what would amount for an individual facility to be more than $20;000. I consider this a safety issue of massive proportion. The ability to print or provide maps could collapse overnight. This can and will affect the safe; orderly; and expeditious flow of air traffic. In as much as the controllers use charts as a reference and visual representation of their and others airspace; the lack of charts could in fact and will reduce; slow; impede or worst case scenario; stop the NAS system. We must renew and invigorate the cmap program before there are any serious problems. Put a sincere effort into finding or creating a replacement for microstation and finance the replacement of all hardware. The national service center (nsc) began supporting the national aeronautical charting group (nacg) in silver spring & glenn dale; md. Since this event the nsc has not been able to do a very good job in providing service to us. This is mostly because the system is complicated and highly specialized. No one from the original program was brought into nsc to provide service. Therefore any problem would involve days of research and eventually they would; quite often; end up calling the old technicians in to fix any problems. Now nsc will not fix or repair the plotters. I believe their position to be that it is not standard equipment. This is after they signed on to and took over cmap. All of the equipment was purchased by and deployed by avn or ajr-32. What we have is standard. It was made standard and accepted as standard when nsc took it over. The centers require that this equipment be serviced and maintained. We need to modernize our mapping software. We need to determine the best products available on the market that meet our needs. Then those need to be purchased in a large buy to reduce cost to the government. We need make sure that every charting system is tested before deployment. We need a reliable service on the software and hardware. Last; but not least we need a management of the cmap program that ensures we get new equipment and software as needed; as well as staying on top of mapping issues.ues.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute reporter provided a very detailed concern regarding the aging ATC mapping tools; noting new equipment must be developed; tested and deployed.

Narrative: For many years AVN worked on modernizing the way in which maps were created and provided to the controllers. The old way required the cutting and pasting of low altitude controller charts and creating and maintaining overlays and underlays. High altitude charts required an hour run to the regional offices and via the use of a large format copier then another hour run back to the facility. High altitude charts also required the development of overlays and underlays. Not only did this take a lot of time; we had to depend that the charts would arrive in enough time to get the work done. On an occasion the charts would be late and the maps would not be up in time. Since 2000; Management Systems Branch (AVN) had developed and supported the CMAP (Microstation) program. This included hardware and software. The hardware included an Intergraph Workstation 400 Mhz Pentium or better 128 ram; 10.1 GB Hard Drive or greater; one 21 monitor and 100 mb Iomega Zip Drive. The software installed on the computer was Windows NT 4.0; Microstation SE; Aeronautical Mapping System 6.0; IPLOT Server 9.0; and IPLOT Client 9.0. Additionally; one HP3500c Plotter with a 54 plot area with 600 DPI and some plotter supplies. This CMAP program included the modernization of the Controller Charting system and NOAA developed digital Controller Charts to work in conjunction with the program. This eventually included the marrying of the VFR Sectionals into the CMAP system. In 2007 we received our last program shipment that included an HP6100 plotter and new Dell Precision 390 computer with the software installed from AJR; Aeronautical Information Management Group. For ten years we; the cartographers of the FAA; have been provided the means to provide an outstanding product for the controller work force. The project as initiated and funded over the years worked well; was efficient and provided a product that cost less than the old system and was more usable that the old product. CMAP provided a universal system. This meant that all centers could utilize the digital product provided by NOAA. It got rid of the problems of every facility having its own system causing formatting and printing issues let alone the ability to read the master digital charts provided by NOAA. It also insured that data was where it was suppose to be on the charts and the chart said what it was suppose to say. Further reducing costs was the bulk purchase of software; computers; and plotters. This way Management Systems Branch could provide service since everyone was using the same product. Further; potential system problems could be anticipated and address early thereby reducing potential computer down time. Today we find ourselves in a very precarious situation. Our equipment is now three years old. As you can well imagine it is starting to wear out and the programs are getting old. As a computer user you can already imagine what our problems might be. First; new Aeronautical Mapping System (AMS) (this allows us to enter data via Latitude/Longitude); does not work with the new Microstation software so the old system will not work for us. If we can keep the old Microstation software running; it will not run on new computers as they are constituted today. So; if one of the Dells breaks down a massive reprogramming of a new computer will be required to force the old program to run. This includes needing old and specialized drivers to run the old plotter. Management Systems Branch; now System Operations (AJR-32) is trying to develop something but that is apparently still years away. There are other mapping programs out there but no group has been created to find out what would best suit our needs. Presently; there is nothing in the works to repair or replace our aging mapping system; and there doesn't seem to be anyone looking into it or concerned about the situation. In fact it appears that they know about the problem in IT but there answer is to let each facility bear the brunt of the system breaking down. Plotters are old. Most have never been cleaned or serviced. No facilities have the funding for repairs; let alone the replacement of; what would amount for an individual facility to be more than $20;000. I consider this a safety issue of massive proportion. The ability to print or provide maps could collapse overnight. This can and will affect the safe; orderly; and expeditious flow of air traffic. In as much as the controllers use charts as a reference and visual representation of their and others airspace; the lack of charts could in fact and will reduce; slow; impede or worst case scenario; stop the NAS system. We must renew and invigorate the CMAP program before there are any serious problems. Put a sincere effort into finding or creating a replacement for Microstation and finance the replacement of all hardware. The National Service Center (NSC) began supporting the National Aeronautical Charting Group (NACG) in Silver Spring & Glenn Dale; MD. Since this event the NSC has not been able to do a very good job in providing service to us. This is mostly because the system is complicated and highly specialized. No one from the original program was brought into NSC to provide service. Therefore any problem would involve days of research and eventually they would; quite often; end up calling the old technicians in to fix any problems. Now NSC will not fix or repair the plotters. I believe their position to be that it is not standard equipment. This is after they signed on to and took over CMAP. All of the equipment was purchased by and deployed by AVN or AJR-32. What we have is standard. It was made standard and accepted as standard when NSC took it over. The Centers require that this equipment be serviced and maintained. We need to modernize our mapping software. We need to determine the best products available on the market that meet our needs. Then those need to be purchased in a large buy to reduce cost to the government. We need make sure that every charting system is tested before deployment. We need a reliable service on the software and hardware. Last; but not least we need a management of the CMAP program that ensures we get new equipment and software as needed; as well as staying on top of mapping issues.ues.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.