07 - Automated Flight Following Form.docx

ATTACHMENT 3: Automated Flight Following General Satellite based aircraft tracking hardware is required in all aircraft. The aircraft tracking hardware shall be powered by the aircraft’s electrical system, installed per the manufacturer’s installation manual, and operational in all phases of flight. The satellite based aircraft tracking hardware shall utilize as a minimum:

1. Satellite communications,

2. An externally or internally mounted antenna.

3. Aircraft power via a dedicated circuit breaker for power protection, and

4. Secure mounting so as to not endanger any occupant from aircraft hardware during periods of turbulence.

Antennas should be placed to maximize the view of the overhead sky. Externally mounted antennas are recommended to improve system performance.

Any manufacturer required pilot display(s) or control(s) shall be visible or selectable by the pilot(s). Remote equipment having visual indicators should be mounted in such a manner as to allow visual indicators to be easily visible.

Satellite based aircraft tracking communications shall be fully operational in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The contractor shall maintain a subscription service through the satellite based aircraft tracking hardware provider allowing position reporting for satellite tracking via the provider’s website. The provider’s website must be secure and access to the website must require a username and password. The position-reporting interval shall be a minimum of every two minutes while the aircraft is in flight. Although not required, the ability to import and display shapefiles of the treatment block boundaries on the provider’s mapping service and website display is an advantage.

Prior to the aircraft’s contract inspection, the Contractor shall perform an operational check of the system. As a minimum, the operational check at inspection shall consist of confirming the aircraft being tested is displayed on the provider’s website (indicating it is currently transmitting data) and that all information displayed on the website is correct.

If the satellite base aircraft tracking hardware becomes inoperable/unreliable the aircraft may, at the discretion of the Government, remain available for service utilizing radio/voice system for flight following. The contractor will return the system to full operational capability within 72 hours after the inoperative/unreliable unit is first discovered as defective.

Single Access Viewing The government does not specify particular satellite aircraft tracking hardware providers but single access viewing of the aircraft data is required. That is, all of the Contractor’s aircraft must be visible on a single screen at one secure website. The Contractor can accomplish this in two ways:

1. All of the aircraft have satellite based aircraft tracking equipment from the same provider and all aircraft are viewable at one secure website

OR

2. Multiple providers are used to equip the aircraft with satellite based tracking hardware which cannot be accessed at a single secure website; thus

a. All satellite based aircraft tracking hardware must be compatible with the government’s Automated Flight Following (AFF) program (https://aff.gov) which allows position reporting from multiple providers to be viewed via single access using the government’s AFF viewing software or

b. Some other arrangement must be negotiated that is acceptable to the government for single access viewing.

If the Contractor plans to use more than one satellite based aircraft tracking provider, the Specification Section Supplement available at: https://www.aff.gov/contractspecs is herein incorporated with the same force and affect as if they were presented as full text. Not all available satellite based tracking systems are compatible with the Government’s AFF Program, nor meets AFF’s requirements. If the Contractor plans to use the Government’s AFF Program, the Contractor shall ensure that the aircraft hardware offered is compatible with AFF. For questions about current compatibility requirements contact the AFF Program Manager listed under contacts at https://www.aff.gov. Additionally:

1. The contractor shall maintain a subscription service through the AFF aircraft hardware provider allowing AFF position reporting for satellite tracking via the Government AFF viewing software. The contractor shall register their AFF aircraft hardware with the Government through https://www.aff.gov providing: complete tail number; manufacturer and serial number of the AFF transceiver; aircraft make and model; and contractor contact information.

2. If the contractor relocates previously registered AFF aircraft hardware into another aircraft, then the contractor shall contact the government’s AFF Program making the appropriate changes prior to aircraft use. In all cases, the contractor shall ensure that the correct aircraft information is indicated within AFF. The contractor shall contact the Government of system changes, scheduled maintenance, and planned service outages.

3. Registration contact information, a web accessible feedback form, and additional information is available at: https://www.aff.gov.

4. Prior to the aircraft’s contract inspection, the Contractor shall ensure compliance with all AFF systems requirements. The Contractor shall additionally perform an operational check of the system. As a minimum, the operational check shall consist of confirming the aircraft being tested is displayed in AFF (indicating it is currently transmitting data to AFF) and that all information displayed in AFF is current.

5. A username and password are required to access AFF. Log on to the AFF website at https://www.aff.gov to request a username and password.