Legislature(2009 - 2010)BARNES 124
02/16/2010 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Presentation and Update: Visual Cue-based Training Program Using the 3-screen Flight Simulator, by Medallion Foundation and E-terra. | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
February 16, 2010
12:59 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Carl Gatto, Chair
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Jay Ramras
Representative Robert L. "Bob" Buch
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative John Harris
Representative Tammie Wilson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION AND UPDATE: VISUAL CUE-BASED TRAINING PROGRAM USING
THE 3-SCREEN FLIGHT SIMULATOR~ BY MEDALLION FOUNDATION AND E-
TERRA.
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
STEVE COLLIGAN, President
E-Terra
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a presentation on the Aviation Safety
Program-Alaska.
NICK MASTRODICASA, Digital Mapping Project Manager
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
Statewide Aviation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation
on the Aviation Safety Program-Alaska.
ACTION NARRATIVE
12:59:28 PM
CHAIR CARL GATTO called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 12:59 p.m. Present at
the call to order were Representatives Ramras, Lynn, and Gatto.
Representatives Buch and Kawasaki arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^Presentation and Update: Visual Cue-Based Training Program
using the 3-screen flight simulator, by Medallion Foundation and
E-Terra.
Presentation and Update: Visual Cue-Based Training Program using
the 3-screen flight simulator, by Medallion Foundation and E-
Terra.
12:59:46 PM
CHAIR GATTO announced that the only order of business would be a
presentation and update on aviation safety and the Visual Cue-
Based Training Program by Medallion Foundation and E-Terra.
1:00:09 PM
STEVE COLLIGAN, President, E-Terra, informed the committee that
E-Terra is a digital mapping technology integration firm. His
firm has been a primary contractor on the Alaska Aviation Safety
Program since 2001, when the project began as a National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funded research
grant through the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
(DMVA). The grant was tasked to use remote sensing technology,
such as satellites, to assist the state in different facets of
aviation safety. E-Terra partnered with DMVA to apply
technology toward search and rescue, and aviation safety. Mr.
Colligan noted that Alaska's aviation statistics show that
aviation safety is important to Alaska. Alaska has the largest
general aviation base in the U.S., and unfortunately, Alaska
pilots fly between, instead of over, mountains. Statistics show
that there has been an average of one aviation fatality in the
state every two weeks during the past ten years. In addition,
Alaska has approximately 10 percent of the nation's air carriers
and commercial operators, but accounts for 35 percent of
aviation accidents. He listed the following factors that
contribute to accidents: extreme terrain and weather;
inexperienced pilots who are unfamiliar with Alaska flying
conditions; commercial pilot turn-over; the old culture of Bush
flying. Mr. Colligan advised that senior pilots have a wealth
of knowledge that should be passed on to help new aviators. He
pointed out that the trend since the implementation of several
safety programs beginning in 2000 shows that fatalities and the
number of crashes are decreasing. One of the products developed
through the program in 2001 documented the wind conditions in
Merrill Pass where the weather changes quickly, and cloud
barriers lower the ceiling. Also, in partnership with the
Medallion Foundation, E-Terra prepared a training dataset for
the Iditarod Air Force.
1:04:25 PM
CHAIR GATTO agreed that Merrill Pass is very dangerous.
1:05:04 PM
MR. COLLIGAN explained that the datasets are visual training
aids "where you can put a pilot in danger without physically
putting him in danger." Using datasets for training also saves
fuel. He displayed slides that showed photo realistic datasets
that have been compiled using satellite imagery of real terrain.
When weather and clouds are "layered on," this creates a photo
realistic dataset for the simulation of dangerous conditions for
flying. In 2001, the project focused on the debrief field
database at the Air National Guard Rescue Coordination Center
(AKRCC). Mr. Colligan advised that the Alaska mountains are too
high to fly over, thus the mountain passes, although dangerous,
are the highways to rural communities. Other communication
products that are being developed help pilots understand the air
spaces; for example, in Anchorage the airspace is shared between
the international airport, general aviation, large float plane
bases, and a large military air operation. The training
products are also used by tower operators and the U.S. Air Force
and foreign participants during Red Flag-Alaska exercises.
Other products recently developed in coordination with other
agencies are cue-based training products. In Ketchikan and
Juneau the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety
Team identified particular criteria for areas of interest to
improve safety. He explained that "cue points" are visible
identifiable landmarks and, if they cannot be seen from the air,
the pilots must return to base. In Ketchikan, the procedure is
geared to fixed-wing aircraft and weather conditions between
mountains; however, over the Mendenhall Glacier the cues alert
pilots to flat light, white, and low light conditions. He
returned to the subject of training and said training datasets
facilitate training, operations, and procedures for the
certification of pilots. Mr. Colligan acknowledged that the
Medallion Foundation program is key in providing structure, and
he expects tour operators to soon demand certification from the
Medallion Foundation for air tour companies. He then called
attention to the Joint Project Office that was formed last year
when the project was transferred to the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) from DMVA. The
transfer was the result of the project's focus moving beyond
search and rescue to transportation aviation. The partnership
remains with the Medallion Foundation and NASA for research, and
there is additional funding from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the FAA. The Joint
Project Office agreement was signed in October 2009.
1:11:00 PM
MR. COLLIGAN turned to the subject of research and development
and spoke of a program developed in Alaska called Capstone.
Capstone is an "accurate depiction and synthetic vision" glass
cockpit prototyped in Alaska and a portion of that, called ADS-
B, is now available nationwide. ADS-B is a communication and
tracking device to other aircraft that is placed within the
cockpit. He opined that the FAA is finally building towers so
that new technology can be used in Alaska. In addition, his
organization wants to augment Alaska's primary locating device,
the Global Positioning System (GPS), so there is a back-up in
case the system fails. Some of this can be done with commercial
off-the-shelf devices and by using low-cost commercial cellular
technology. He cautioned that ADS-B "cuts out" between 500 feet
and 2,000 feet, thus cellular technology can provide a back-up
for tracking all the way to the ground.
[Indiscernible comments by an unknown speaker in the gallery.]
1:14:40 PM
MR. COLLIGAN expressed his belief that these technologies apply
nationwide; however, Alaska provides unique circumstances that
make it a great place for research and development, and for
testing products. For example, E-Terra has partnered with New
Horizons Telecom Inc., to test wireless technologies. A waiver
was received to conduct testing of a wireless aviation network
between Palmer and Talkeetna; during a period of three years his
firm tested cellular sites and the reception problems
encountered with cellular communication from an aircraft.
1:17:30 PM
MR. COLLIGAN observed private carriers can produce wireless
technologies for rural communities that are superior to what is
found in larger installations; in fact, additional local
information can augment weather data for pilots in route. He
advised that DOT&PF has been effective in raising awareness and
bringing the project's partners together. For example, the
Medallion Foundation facilities pilot training and simulation,
E-Terra provides data, and the FAA safety team is focused on
tourism-related accidents. Regarding the history of funding for
the project, he recalled the project received a $3 million
appropriation in 2001, and then continued to work through NASA
on the 13 mountain passes in 2002. Shared funding is supporting
the completion of the datasets for mapping applications, and
federal partners share in the cost of the goal of aviation
safety. Mr. Colligan relayed that the state provides 20 percent
of the funding by appropriation or through the governor's
budget. He expressed his hope that improved technologies will
"take the search out of search and rescue." There is also value
in educating pilots so that Alaska is a safer place and aviation
improves.
1:22:55 PM
CHAIR GATTO recalled his first experiences as a pilot.
1:23:44 PM
MR. COLLIGAN advised that a Garmin GPS is good for use in the
Lower 48 because it is affordable, fairly accurate, and a good
tool. However, although it is affordable in Alaska, because the
mapping is inaccurate he cautioned against using Garmin. In
fact, the state is still using data from the 1950's that does
not meet national map standards, is pre-1964 earthquake, and is
not accurate. He warned that because of development, missile
defense, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), there is a lot of
data available that "is so easy, and beautiful, and convincing,
but if you don't know where the data came from or how accurate
it is, it will kill you." So, the project also has the
different mission of trying to get the agencies to work together
to improve mapping.
1:26:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked how much of Alaska is currently
mapped.
1:26:53 PM
MR. COLLIGAN answered about 7 percent of the state. There are
separate mapping initiatives that will provide data, but
collecting the imagery is the expensive part of making a map.
He pointed out that DOT&PF and the Statewide Digital Mapping
Initiative (SDMI) have pooled money to collect data from
Fairbanks to the Canadian border and down Southcentral, but the
data is the largest cost. He estimated the initiative will add
20 percent "chunks" of land.
1:28:23 PM
NICK MASTRODICASA, Digital Mapping Project Manager, Statewide
Aviation, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
(DOT&PF), informed the committee that the mapping issue has two
components: base mapping with elevation data, and satellite
imagery. At this time, about 5 percent of the state has
accurate elevation data and 10 percent more will be done this
year in partnership with several federal entities. To do this,
the federal government is contributing about $4 million and the
state is contributing about $2 million. In addition, he expects
imagery acquisition to be funded by a Request for Proposal (RFP)
from the state for $2 million leveraged against $2.6 million of
federal money. Mr. Mastrodicasa explained that the digital
elevation is a statewide effort, and it will accomplish about 85
percent of the elevations by this summer.
1:30:43 PM
MR. COLLIGAN commented that a map will be made available to the
committee. In response to Chair Gatto, he stated that state
funding began with a $500,000 match, although last year's
request for $1 million was cut to $400,000. This year's $1
million request was cut to $500,000, and these funds will be
used against federal matches. In further response to Chair
Gatto, he relayed that there are 20 simulators in the state.
The simulators are standardized, so most are of a similar
configuration and have a three-screen display. There is also a
"full motion Super Cub" in Anchorage and a helicopter for flight
simulation and training.
1:33:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked for more details on helicopter
simulation.
1:34:21 PM
MR. COLLIGAN explained that the helicopter simulator keyboard
has different scenarios so the trainer can go through a
standardized procedure to monitor and record a variety of
dangerous situations. He then told a story of a younger pilot
who benefitted from the experience of an older pilot.
1:38:48 PM
MR. COLLIGAN shared that commercial pilots benefit from using
simulators as they get a break on their insurance rates.
1:39:36 PM
CHAIR GATTO has heard that competence as a pilot begins at 650
hours of flying time.
1:41:01 PM
MR. COLLIGAN suggested that the Medallion Foundation may have
statistics on flying time. He noted that there is a simulator
in Palmer set up for general aviation use that is free to pilots
and students.
CHAIR GATTO passed the gavel to Representative Lynn
1:42:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN related his past experience learning to fly.
1:43:29 PM
MR. COLLIGAN acknowledged that the technology has evolved in
many ways such as the data perspective, imagery, and immersive-
type training, as well as procedure training in simulators. In
response to Representative Lynn, he agreed that the technology
is affordable and added that much that is used in simulators has
been generated from computer games.
1:45:40 PM
MR. MASTRODICASA added that datasets are in use at the
University of Alaska (UA) for training students in air traffic
control and piloting. He displayed the slide titled "Wireless
Testing" and pointed out that the equipment used such as a hand-
held GPS, a laptop or notebook computer, and a cellular phone,
makes the system affordable for the average pilot to purchase
and operate.
1:47:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH appreciated the presenters' efforts to
improve commercial and private aviation safety.
1:48:41 PM
MR. COLLIGAN recalled that a commercial air service received a
large federal contract because of its extra safety training and
certifications.
1:49:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN noted the economic value of aviation to the
state.
1:51:13 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 1:51 p.m.
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