Gail Zlotky

gail.zlotky@mtsu.edu

Wendy Beckman

Aerospace

Discipline specific equipment

BAS S112

N/A

N/A

Last year, the TAF committee awarded the Aerospace department money for new software for the Air Traffic Control lab. After much research and information gathering, it has become apparent that the current hardware in the lab, which is now 10 years old, cannot handle new software. With the original hardware, which continuously crashes due to low performance, thus interrupting training labs, we have multiple versions of computers, projectors, and monitors with different ports and specifications, making replacing and/or repairing computers and other hardware very difficult, specifically sourcing compatible parts. With new hardware, we plan on making all computers in the lab the same, making repairs and replacements very standard. This will decrease the lab's "down time", allowing un-interrupted training and simulation that will better prepare the students. Without new hardware, we cannot utilize new software, for which we have already been awarded funding. Without new software, we cannot simulate modern procedures implemented in the real world that our current software does not support. Without the ability to simulate these new procedures in our lab, we cannot effectively prepare our students for a career in ATC. The equipment in the Air Traffic Control lab is in dire need of an upgrade in order to move into the modern era of training and simulation. We have taken measures to prevent this request in the future by establishing an ATC program Repair and Replace (R&R) account.