What does resiliency mean for today’s NAS?
The FAA’s focus on resiliency is not solely the result of extreme weather events. While strengthening facilities to improve resiliency during hurricanes and catastrophic weather events is important, the FAA’s resiliency model is focused on identifying, mitigating, responding, and recovering from catastrophic service interruptions regardless of the cause—cyber, technological, or human error. This approach aligns closely with Tetra Tech’s infrastructure resiliency model, which emphasizes stakeholder engagement, risk assessments, and integrates resilience into all aspects of a system’s life cycle.
Can you share some best practices established to enhance NAS resiliency and how Tetra Tech helps clients implement these solutions?
We help our clients implement best practices to enhance NAS resiliency through a comprehensive three-phase conceptual model we developed in partnership with the FAA. The Resiliency Assessment and Analysis Model (RAAM) collects, analyzes, and measures the resiliency of critical air traffic control systems, facilities, airspaces, and the overall NAS. RAAM has been used to identify current infrastructure weaknesses, measure the impact of changes and solutions, prioritize investment decisions, and develop and measure the effectiveness of airspace operational contingency plans. Our in-depth understanding of air traffic control (ATC) systems and real-world operational contexts enables us to evaluate and strengthen NAS resiliency in alignment with FAA mission needs.