The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a vendor challenge to develop a new system to manage the flow of air traffic across the United States. The initiative aims to replace the current Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) with a modern, scalable system capable of maintaining safe and efficient operations under a range of conditions.
Air traffic controllers use TFMS to plan and implement measures that reduce delays and congestion in the National Airspace. Delays may occur due to severe weather, airport capacity constraints, runway closures, or staffing shortages.
The FAA’s challenge seeks proposals for the Flow Management Data and Services (FMDS) system, which will serve as a replacement for TFMS. The FMDS is expected to be easier to maintain and adaptable to evolving operational requirements. Interested parties can review the request for information on SAM.gov.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said:The new FMDS program will replace current technology that is decades-old and struggling with performance and maintainability issues. If we want the gold-standard of air traffic control, we need to give air traffic controllers the tools they need to succeed. We look forward to partnering with a company who will help achieve our goals of safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System.
The system upgrade is mandated under the 2024 FAA Reauthorization, which calls for modernising the Traffic Flow Management programme. It also forms part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s broader plan to develop a new air traffic control system. A prime contractor to oversee the FMDS development is expected to be selected by the end of October.
