Lockheed Martin participated in ceremonies today as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially declared the new air traffic control system operational at the 20th and final Air Route Traffic Control Center in Leesburg, Va.

The installation at Leesburg culminates a five-year effort to provide an integrated, modern air traffic control system for U.S. airspace. Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management completed the nationwide project ahead of schedule and within the FAA's established budget.

The Display System Replacement (DSR) air traffic control computer system, developed by Lockheed Martin, was initially installed at the Seattle ARTCC and became operational there on December 15, 1998. Since then, the system has been installed ahead of schedule and on budget at all 20 FAA centers nationwide, culminating in the operational status at the Washington, D.C. Center on May 31.

"DSR is the cornerstone in building the airspace system of the 21st Century," said Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater. "This final dedication of DSR makes good on our commitment to the American people for the safest, most secure and efficient airspace system, capable of meeting the challenges of the new century and the new millennium."

Under the DSR contract awarded in April 1995, Lockheed Martin replaced 20 to 30-year-old equipment with state-of-the-art technology that provides a new software architecture, color displays, and a new user interface for controllers. "This new equipment improves speed, capacity, maintainability, and reliability," said Jane Garvey, FAA Administrator, adding, "Just as important, DSR provides a platform for future upgrades."

For Lockheed Martin, "The Leesburg milestone brings the five-year DSR contract to the successful conclusion of an effort that has consistently met our customer's budget and schedule expectations," says Don Antonucci, president, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management. "Bringing this billion-dollar system online, on time and within budget could not have been accomplished without the cooperation and dedication of FAA and Lockheed Martin employees working as a team.

"There was virtually no disruption to critical controller activities while the system was installed, tested, transitioned and then placed into operation," continued Antonucci. "This is the level of quality, service and partnership we strive to maintain with all of our customers."

"The spirit of cooperation between the FAA program, engineering and field people and their Lockheed Martin counterparts led to the success we celebrated at all 20 ARTCCs," said Sue Corcoran, vice president, North American Programs, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management.

Air traffic controllers at the Washington ARTCC control movements of aircraft flying in a 240,000 square mile area. This airspace covers parts of seven states and the District of Columbia, including Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Traffic count averages 8500 per day. Nationwide, the integrated DSR system controls on average 123,287 aircraft per day or 45 million aircraft a year, serving the largest, and most traveled, integrated airspace in the world.

A leader in airspace management solutions, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management customers include the FAA and international civil aviation authorities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, Korea and the People's Republic of China. Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management employs approximately 1,100 people at major facilities in Rockville, Maryland, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Southampton, England, and is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics and technology services. Lockheed Martin had 1999 sales surpassing $25 billion.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin