ITT Tunes in FAA Digital Radio Contract

ITT Industries Inc. has been awarded the Federal Aviation Administration's Next Generation Air/Ground Communications, or Nexcom, contract, the agency announced July 31.


The contract is for an initial $20.5 million over 15 months, and could be worth as much as $580 million if all options are exercised over 10 years.


ITT of White Plains, N.Y., partnered with Park Air Systems, Federal Data Corp. and Operational Technologies Services Inc., to provide the equipment.


The first part of the contract will replace air traffic controllers' aging analog radios with digital radios in phases. When completed, the digital system will enhance the FAA's ability to meet expanding air traffic control communications demands.


The switch to multimode digital radio will allow air traffic controllers to accommodate the growing number of sectors and services using the limited spectrum available in the VHF aeronautical frequency band.

The contract also is intended to reduce logistical costs, such as supplies, maintenance and training, by replacing high-maintenance VHF radios, while reducing air-to-ground radio frequency interference and enhancing security against unauthorized users.


After end-to-end operational testing is complete, the radios will be installed at 1,500 remote air-to-ground communications and backup emergency communications facilities serving 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers.