FAA FY14 budget estimate

Well lets not jump the gun, this is only the budget estimate. The one good thing about the 2 items that TCU posted today, is that its early enough to get to the Congressmen/women before the hearing next week.

I found this article about the VOR network which in the proposed budget says they it along with CWO program help provide 62 million relief. The article is from last year, but it does state that last year alone it cost some 112 million to run. So if they are continuing with the shutdown of the VOR network, that could be a significant chunk of the 62 million.

www.flyingmag.com/news/faa-plans-major-reduction-vor-coverage

The ASWON Tech Refresh program will provide form/fit/function technology upgrades/replacements to five legacy ASWON systems (ASOS, AWOS, AWSS, DASI, F420) experiencing obsolescence, supportability, and maintainability issues. This sustainment effort will extend the service life of these systems and continue their role of providing required weather observations. The investment will result in a cost-avoidance of the continually increasing maintenance costs of these systems.
The following systems, agencies, and users depend on the data provided by ASWON:
 NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)
 Commercial Aviation, General Aviation, and the Flying Public
 Air Traffic Approach and Ground Controllers
 Surveillance Broadcast Services (SBS) - Flight Information Service Broadcast (FIS-B)
 Common Automated Radar Terminal System (ARTS) - ARTS IIIE
 Airport Surveillance Radar 9 (ASR-9) - Weather System Processor (WSP) for Wind Shear Detection
 Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS)
 Weather and Radar Processor (WARP)
 Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS)
 Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
DOT Strategic Goal – Economic Competitiveness
 Maximum economic returns on transportation policies and investments.
Why Is This Particular Program Necessary?
The five systems in the ASWON portfolio require a tech refresh (or equivalent replacement in-kind) effort in order to continue meeting current operational requirements. No new functionality or requirements will be added by this tech refresh effort. No other FAA initiatives address the shortfalls addressed by the ASWON Tech Refresh program. ASWON Tech Refresh ensures that the following functions will continue to be met:
 Acquisition of surface weather information
 Surface weather observations used by aircraft operators
 A minimum of two altimeter setting indicators (ASI) at ATC facilities
 Back up wind and altimeter required to maintain Parts 121 and 135 operations
How Do You Know the Program Works?
ASWON Systems are deployed and operational at over 1,100 sites in the CONUS, Alaska, and Hawaii. NextGen programs such as ADS-B are installation ASWON weather stations in Alaska for use with their surveillance and broadcasting systems. Surface observations provided by ASWON are used continually by Air Traffic Control, Pilots, the general public and several Air Traffic Control Systems.
ASWON Tech Refresh received Final Investment Decision (FID) on September 26, 2012.
Why Do We Want/Need To Fund The Program At The Requested Level?
$10,000,000 is required to initiate preparatory activities for the Technology Refresh. The FAA second level engineering support group, Logistics Depot, and Maintenance personnel continue to struggle to find ways to support aging, unsupportable, and obsolete ASWON equipment. The required funding will initiate ASWON Tech Refresh implementation and will lead to a supportable and cost-effective ASWON, thus eliminating any risk of losing the essential services that ASWON provides to its numerous users.