Four Airlines Join FAA NextGen Data Equipment Program

Four unnnamed U.S. airlines intend to install digital avionics systems as part of a seven-year, $150 million task order the Federal Aviation Administration awarded to Harris Corp. in August.

The FAA intends to transition pilot-to-air traffic controller communications from voice-only messaging to digital communications under the NextGen program’s Data Communications Integrated Services project, Harris said Wednesday.

With the commitment of United Airlines and the other four airlines, Harris says the FAA has achieved 80 percent of its avionics equipage goal in the first year of the six-year program.

Harris announced the new program participants at the Air Traffic Control Association conference, which was held from Sunday to Wednesday at the Gaylord National in Washington.