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Fact Sheet

Technical Center Selected as Historic Aerospace Site

AIAA Cites Center’s Key Role in Air Traffic Control’s Evolution

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has designated the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) William J. Hughes Technical Center as an AIAA Historic Aerospace Site. The AIAA cited the Technical Center for its pivotal role in creating the nation’s modern air traffic control system over the last 50 years.

The AIAA will officially designate the Technical Center as a Historic Aerospace Site on June 10, in Atlantic City, in conjunction with the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA)/FAA/NASA Technical Symposium.

The Technical Center is the nation’s leading Federal Laboratory for the research, development, test and evaluation of air transportation systems. Its world-class laboratories and top-notch engineering expertise put the Technical Center at the forefront of the FAA’s challenge to modernize the U.S. air transportation system. It is the primary facility for conducting the research, engineering and integration activities required to support the nation’s Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen.

The Center has served as the core facility for modernizing the air traffic control system and for advancing programs to enhance aviation safety in all stages of flight since 1958. Center scientists have been responsible for implementing critical programs, focusing on air traffic management, communications, navigation, airports and aircraft safety.

The nation’s air traffic control system operates around the clock, and the Technical Center has provided constant back-up and field support when problems occur at airports and air traffic control centers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Technical Center is the focus and national backup for the nation’s traffic alert and collision avoidance system and enhanced traffic management system.

Some early Technical Center highlights include: automation data processing center work to automate air traffic control (1961); the first wake vortex turbulence test by helicopter (1963); the first operational testing of an automated enroute air traffic control system (1966); the introduction of visual approach slope indicator (VASI) to provide improved guidance to runways (1966); and the first tower cab mockup to test controller work areas and do airport observations (1972).

Work conducted at the Technical Center has resulted in key aviation advancements in: new technology for air traffic control, air-to-ground communications, weather detection, airport visual guidance, runway safety, aircraft surveillance systems, human factors, airport capacity, tower siting, reduced vertical separation minima and many other areas.

The Center contains laboratories, test and support facilities, Atlantic City International Airport and a non-commercial aircraft hangar in an area that covers more than 5,000 acres. Some unique Tech Center laboratories include: air traffic control and simulation facilities, a human factors laboratory, a fleet of specially instrumented in-flight testing aircraft, the world’s largest full-scale aviation fire test facility, a chemistry laboratory for analyzing the toxicity of materials involved in a fire, radar test laboratories, a structural panel test facility and the National Airport Pavement Test Facility.

The AIAA established the Historic Aerospace Sites Program in January 2000 to promote the preservation of, and the dissemination of information about, significant accomplishments made in the aerospace profession. The Technical Center joins these impressive sites recognized by the AIAA Historic Sites Committee: the original Bendix Aviation Company in Teterboro, N.J.; the Boeing Red Barn in Seattle; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; the site of the first balloon launch in Annonay, France; and Tranquility Base on the moon. For more information about AIAA’s Historic Aerospace Sites Program, contact Emily Springer at 703-264-7533 or emilys@aiaa.org.

The AIAA advances the state of aerospace science, engineering and technological leadership. Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., the Institute serves more than 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations and government. For more information, visit http://www.aiaa.org .