All URET Functions are now handled by the CP processor. (Conflict Probe) Rather than right now with DS URET is spread across several processors and has more ability to fail because on processor relys on another. and having no backup either. the CP has a backup, say I pull the plugg on CP1, CP2 takes over with no problem. Now reading some of the other articles on here saying ERAM has no back up.. Because it runs the same software on Both A and B Channel. That if Channel A has a Bug Channel B will have the same bug. Yes and .. No... I wont spent the time trying to explain why I say that, Id be here a while. but there are "slight" differences in the software between A and B Channel. Most of which is on how it talks to ECG. But You will find there are software issues with Channel A that you wont Find on Channel B, and Vise Versa.

I like the Comment comparison made up top. Going from HOST/DSR setup to ERAM is like going from a Commodore 64 to a Modern Age iMac. Id Almost have to say thats a perfect analogy when it comes to the Hardware Involved in ERAM. As for the software side .. What a Joke. Did you know over 75% of the Code in ERAM is still written in ADA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_programming_lang... Its a Really OLD DoD Language not many left out there that know the language) And that most all of the Code from DSR and HOST where just Ported over. Then Programmers when in and Hacked away at it writing API's for it to interface with the Core. And now as we can all see one of the main issues with ERAM is that it has some major issues with doing inter-facility communications. As Mentioned in another comment Im not a controller, But if I understand correctly there are alot of Controller Functionality problems too. Most from reading Help Desk Tickets and PR's seem to be easy fixes. But as they fix one issue it creates 2 more issues in other areas. Im Still amazed that they are allowing Microsoft Products interact with ERAM. They spent a ALOT of extra money for that too. Walk around the SOC sometime and you will see Windows XP for Support Workstations, and Windows Server 2003 for the Support Security Workstation. All that could be running AIX or any Flavor of Linux and it would of been more secure and not to mention alot cheaper. They had to buy special X Server software called Exceed just to allow for windows to view X11 windows off the Support Side Processors. Im Sure IBM was going to charge Extra if Lockheed asked that Windows XP be Replaced with Fedora or Ubuntu so they went with XP.

Most that read this is controllers I Think. But Atsetup (anyone ever heard of AT Coach? yea nearly the same software STARS Used same company devloped it) Anyways what I was getting at, is the Training side to ERAM complicated things big time. So now not only does your AT Training guy need to be a controller but he needs to be a glorified computer operator too and part programmer to build scenarios. Did you know Techs are not and will not be trained on how to fix or how ATSetup works? So if it breaks you might be on your own. But they train them on how to build Scenarios. Only because of OLC. ERAM is a double edge sword. Its bad because to many politics are running the show and forcing things to work rather than addressing the issues and taking the time to properly fix whats broke. The good side is, Host, DSR, Nadin, and many other systems some as old as I am are still in use and getting harder to maintain and find parts for to keep it turning and burning. What parts of ERAM that do work, work well. Other need work. But ive mentioned this before. is ERAM all that Much Different than DSR from when it first got Implemented? If I remember right (I was new back then) everyone was moaning and growling about DSR, This dont work and that dont work.. Politics pushed this, Manager got this and that Bonus, Contractors got bonuses, but in the end after all the Headache DSR turned out to be a Pretty decent system, no one wanted to Switch from CDC /9020 to DSR but it needed to happen. once all 22 sites go ORD I bet most of the moans will be gone and most will start to like the new system. I For one was glad to see the track balls on the M&C's go away. i Hate Trackballs they make my hand cramp LOL

Well I can say that ADS-B rev2 is the GPS system they are pushing. Infact its gone between 3 companies now. Raytheon started it. Failed Miserably, a Company called Capstone bought the rights from Raytheon and Made the system work. Well what they company forgot to do is give the GBT's(Ground Based Transceivers) an International usable Frequency. So it got scrapped after the FAA had already paid Millions for the System. Now the System has been bought out again, and revamped "AGAIN" and has been given the OK from the FAA to start implementing. Sad thing is its 100% Contract the system does not touch FAA Technicians Hands. And who has the Contract you might ask? AT&T somehow got there hands in it. ADS-B is a very complex system, requires a TON of Server power, and quick networks in order to get the data to other planes equip for ADS-B and to controllers scopes (I think Alaska and Miami are the only 2 places with ADS-B right now) . I Think about this, this way. The FAA Requires a Certified Trained FAA Employee to Certify the Radar Data coming in on a daily basis. There are several reports you have to run and some very tight tolerances on how inaccurate the data can be, before allowing it to be used to control traffic with. But now the FAA is allowing an exception to this rule in allowing AT&T to give GPS type radar information with out an FAA Tech Certifying the system. To me this is step 1 for contracting the FAA out. Because now the Tech dont have a Job, and with ADS-B supposedly you dont have to have as many controllers because the Pilots can control themselves. (we all know that wont happen nor is that safe to allow) But as much as I like working on some of these new NEXTGEN style systems coming in, it goes to show that we have high ranking people in Washington FAA Side that dont have a clue on what Controllers and Techs do. If you take Controlling traffic and maintaining the systems Controllers use out of Federal Hands I think you risk the Publics safety. Would you feel safe if the Military was Contracted out to say Lockheed Martin? I sure wouldnt.

"Article 29- more good moves. Reasonable amounts of time for graduates of the OKC academy to move to their facilities, official time for a huge safety seminar that NATCA puts on, and so forth."

Im not a controller. But I feel for the students. I hear them talk in the Hallways at the Academy about leaving everything they own in OKC, fly to there center and then pray they allow them to go back to gather there things. Some have to burden there family to help them just so they can get there in time. The instructor do what they can for the En-Router's once they complete their 2 weeks of URET familiarization on the last night they try and run though their problems as quick as they can so they can leave early and get the students with a little bit of a head start. Management has been cracking down though on allowing them to leave early so it all depends on if the Lead Instructor is FAA or Contractor.

Now having said that what the chances of explaining to the AT students(there are some AF students too that do this its not just all AT) that they are not in college or High School. And this training is apart of there Job? The Stafford building is becoming a shamble with Graffiti, trash, shoot they even had a food fight in the En-Route Labs a couple of times. Im all for having fun and all we all joke around and such at work. Anyways I will turn that rant off LOL

But yea Give the kids time to Move on to there Permanent Facility, I think that would take alot of stress off them as they get ready for there Evaluation.

Also, I Heard a "RUMOR" that part of this contract had a clause in it to delay the implementation of ERAM to allow for Re-Training since IOC Dates all got moved around and we are what almost 9 months behind schedule now? Im sure it was just a rumor, but if ya think about it, its not really a bad one considering the AF Tech are in a Similar shoe. Some got trained a Year ago and still haven't touched ERAM yet.