In the Spotlight

Garrison Canter, Joe Healey, and Nick Subbotin from the FAA Airport Technology Research and Development Branch (ATR) attended presentations by civilian, military, and industry representatives on the priorities and technological/legal/policy challenges facing the Counter UAS (C-UAS) industry at the 4^th Annual SAE Media Group® Counter UAS Technology USA Conference on December 2-4, in Arlington, VA. The presentations and informal discussions with personnel from partner agencies and detection and mitigation technology vendors inform ATR’s future research efforts, including the testing and evaluation of C-UAS technologies and the development and refinement of performance standards related to C-UAS deployment at airports.

Garrison Canter, ANG-E261, 609-485-6411

Dr. Navneet Garg represented the FAA Airport Technology Research & Development (ATR) branch at the National Asphalt Pavement Association 2024 Perpetual Pavement Conference held in Louisville, KY. Dr. Garg’s presentation, “Perpetual Pavement Test Sections at FAA’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF),” highlighted ATR’s most current research on perpetual pavements.

Navneet Garg, ANG-E262, navneet.garg@faa.gov

Dr. David Brill  from FAA’s Airport Technology Research & Development (ATR) Branch was a featured speaker at the 20th ALACPA (Latin American and Caribbean Airport Pavement Association) seminar in Panama City, Panama. He presented an Aircraft Classification Rating-Pavement Classification Rating (ACR-PCR) workshop, as well as a review of current research activities at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility. The ACR-PCR was the most significant topic of interest to the attendees due to the ICAO’s 2024 PCR reporting deadline.

David Brill, ANG-E261, david.brill@faa.gov

Representatives from FAA’s Airport Technology Research & Development (ATR) Branch and AAS-200 attended a demonstration by Maren-go Solutions Corporation. Maren-go was funded by the Department of Defense to demonstrate multiple autonomous vehicles operating under a common command and control system. Autonomous lawn mower, FOD detection, and perimeter security vehicles were tested as part of the demonstration

First International Conference on Sustainable Airport Pavement Management (SAPM): Dr. Navneet Garg from the FAA Airport Technology Research & Development (ATR) branch delivered the Keynote Speech, Addressing Sustainability at Airport Pavements, at the First International Conference on Sustainable Airport Pavement Management, held in Singapore on September 24-25, 2024. The conference was jointly organized by the Pavement Engineering Society (Singapore), Changi Airports International Pvt. Ltd, and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. The conference was the first of its kind that addressed emerging issues in sustainability and managing airport pavements. 

Dr. Garg also participated in a panel discussion on the upcoming transition from Aircraft Classification Number-Pavement Classification Number (ACN-PCN) to Aircraft Classification Rating-Pavement Classification Rating (ACR-PCR). The conversation highlighted the challenges many airports face when adapting to this new system and underscored the importance of accurate data collection for pavement classification ratings. It was a thought-provoking session featuring perspectives from global experts such as Cyril Fabre (Airbus Industries, ICAO APEG), Choon Onn How (Changi Airport Group, Singapore), Narsimha Saralaya, (Bangalore Airport, India), Dr. Greg White (University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia), Dimas Salvia (Rio de Janeiro Airport, Brazil), and Chew We-Sen (Changi International Airport, Singapore).

The conference was attended by more than 220 airport operators, airport consultants, contractors, and academics from 27 countries.

Dr. Navneet Garg | Navneet.Garg@faa.gov