Lockheed Martin, already contracted to produce the next-generation air traffic controller workstation for the US Federal Aviation Administration, is to develop a software tool allowing controllers to look ahead up to 20min for potential in-flight conflicts. An essential element of the US aviation agency's "free flight" concept, the User Request Evaluation Tool (URET) will be integrated with the Display System Replacement (DSR) contract. URET will first enter service late in 2001, and will be operational at seven FAA traffic control centres by 2004. Prototypes have been tested since 1996, and a version of URET will go operational in the UK in 2002.
Source: Flight International
