Development of the ground broadcast server at Memphis International Airport

Trios Associates, Inc. is developing a Ground Broadcast Server (GBS) to provide functionality for Traffic Information Services Broadcast (TIS-B) and Flight Information Services Broadcast (FIS-B) during the Cargo Airline Association (CAA)/SafeFlight 21 Operational Evaluation 3 at Memphis International Airport in the Spring of 2002. Trios is drawing on experience from the development of a similar system for Dallas/Ft. Worth airport called the DataLink Manager (DLM) which provided TIS-B information for demonstrations for the FAA's Runway Incursion Reduction Program (RIRP) and NASA's Runway Incursion Prevention System (RIPS). Additionally, Trios is using work performed by The MITRE Corporation in development of the CAPSTONE Communications Control Server (CCCS) used in Alaska. The paper explains the architecture of the ground infrastructure at Memphis International Airport (MEM), the functionality of the GBS, and the issues involved in finalizing the design.