Lockheed Martin awarded US$344m Federal Aviation Administration contract

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a US$344m contract by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop and deploy the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) system. This key NextGen system will provide electronic flight strips as well as improved surface management tools that will allow streamlined operations in the air traffic control towers for busy airports. The TFDM contract period of performance has a five-year base with seven one-year options. Lockheed Martin along with principal subcontractor Saab Sensis will be using proven technology to develop the system. TFDM will work by integrating digital flight plans with surface surveillance data to create accurate, real-time predictive tools for the terminal environment. TFDM will share data among controllers, aircraft operators and airports so they can better stage arrivals and departures, and manage traffic flow within terminal airspace for greater efficiency. Additionally, the surface departure management will improve gate departure efficiency for the airlines and will significantly reduce or eliminate queues of airplanes waiting for departure on a runway.