Air Traffic Control System

Your Aug. 12 editorial on problems with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Minimum Safe Altitude Warning software and our need for more outside computer resources raises important and complex issues. Let me provide additional information on both the specific MSAW software and the FAA’s overall technical expertise that we are applying to improve the entire nationwide air traffic control system.

FAA testing that followed your editorial showed that MSAW, a software function that has been in service for two decades, continues to work as designed at virtually all of the 193 locations where it is installed. I cannot comment on the functioning of the Guam MSAW at the time of the accident, which is a part of the National Transportation Safety Board investigation. However, I can assure you that it is now fully functional at Guam.

More important, I believe the FAA is meeting the challenges of modernizing our air traffic control system. With support from academia and industry, we have a solid understanding of our computer hardware and software needs. For example, over the past four years, we have been enhancing our own software development and maintenance practices using techniques developed by the experts at Car- negie Mellon University. The FAA’s highest priority is to enhance the safety of our air traffic control system while we strive to increase its capacity and reliability.

MONTE R. BELGER

Associate Administrator

for Air Traffic Services

FAA, Washington