Working Together to Help Shape the Future of Aviation
The Florida Test Bed (FTB) is a Federal Aviation (FAA) Administration initiative to develop an air traffic management (ATM) research and demonstration facility at Daytona Beach. The FTB utilizes a cost-effective, expandable and scalable architecture to allow for new growth as ATM capabilities evolve, and provides an open platform to help evaluate and examine the feasibility of new technologies. The agile research and integration facility integrates multiple flight domains, established to allow gate-to-gate demonstrations of Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems, concepts, and procedures.
The Federal Aviation (FAA) Administration and Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) have partnered with an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) that designates Embry‑Riddle as the operator of the Florida Test Bed. ERAU supports the Test Bed by operating the facility and by working with government, industry and academia in support of FAA-assigned projects.
Mission
The mission of the ERAU FTB Programs is to provide a microcosm of the National Airspace (NAS), with prototype capabilities that are aligned with planned functionality as depicted by the NAS Enterprise Architecture and Infrastructure Roadmaps.
Objectives
ERAU FTB Programs can be used to evaluate concepts, operational research, capabilities and technologies prior to these being funded, implemented or fielded by other facilities. The programs integrate multiple flight domains within its facility to provide for end-to-end or multi-domain demonstrations and concept evaluations, providing an open platform to help evaluate and examine the feasibility of new technologies.
The test bed is built to serve the following purposes:
Act as a robust platform where integration, rapid prototyping and demonstration take place without affecting the air traffic operations in the National Airspace System (NAS).
Provide access to industry, government and academia via a unique development model that requires investment from all participating parties.
Use of actual NAS systems supplied by industry and government and simulation systems where necessary.
Systems linked via System Wide Information Management (SWIM) and designed to support Trajectory Based Operations.
Inside the Florida NextGen Test Bed
Take a virtual tour of the Florida NextGen Test Bed and see how real-world air traffic systems are simulated, tested and demonstrated in one integrated environment. Explore the tools, technology and spaces used to model everything from tower operations to global flight flow.
Florida Test Bed Virtual Tour
Trajectory-Based Operations: The Future of Air Traffic Management
See how Trajectory-Based Operations is transforming air traffic management through real-time data sharing, predictive planning and global collaboration. Watch how this approach improves efficiency, reduces delays and reshapes how flights move from departure to arrival.
Multi-Regional Trajectory Based Operation Project
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Aviation, much like the rest of the world, is experiencing an information revolution. We have become connected electronically through all kinds of devices, leading to large-scale growth in available data. Rapid growth has resulted in these technologies reaching a level of maturity that allows for their use in safety-centric industries, such as air traffic management (ATM).
These changes rapidly and easily bring us back to the original Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) envisioned. Introduced in 2004, the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen, was a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiative to modernize the nation’s antiquated air traffic control systems to make air travel safer, more efficient, and more economical. The government signed a law in December 2003 that endorsed a Next Generation Air Transportation System, envisioned to integrate existing technologies, policies, and procedures with newly developed ones to achieve the goals of reducing delays, saving fuel, and lowering aircraft exhaust emissions. This NextGen overhaul took ATM from the current legacy systems — inexact ground-based radar and inefficient point-to-point information sharing — to satellite-based technology, which allows for precise tracking of aircraft and a collaborative decision-making process utilizing real-time shared data. During the NextGen process, a need was realized for a facility where industry, academia and government could come together to integrate, test and demonstrate some of these NextGen supporting technologies.
History of the FTB
The ERAU NextGen Programs has its origins in work conducted by Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University and members of an Industry Consortium on the Integrated Airport Initiative (IAI), which began in 2006. The IAI project was aimed at demonstrating emerging concepts and capabilities related to NextGen within the scope of air traffic control, as well as airport and airline operations.
Leveraging the work and contributions of the IAI, the FAA established the ERAU NextGen Programs at a government facility while maintaining a cooperative relationship with IAI industry members. The team has continued to support the needs of the FAA while building a solid technological capability.
In 2008, the Florida Test Bed (FTB) was established, and the FAA contracted Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) to operate the facility. The FTB is an agile research and integration facility, designed to allow government, industry, and academia to showcase their ideas and technologies in the FAA National Airspace System (NAS) environment. The FTB started with NextGen tasks and is continuing to conduct research and development and concept demonstrations in exciting fields such as uncrewed aircraft, commercial space, cybersecurity, trajectory-based operations (TBO), international civil aviation organization (ICAO) concepts, connected aircraft, and many more areas.
Agile Infrastructure as a Service for FAA Projects
Welcome to the Florida Test Bed (FTB)
The Florida Test Bed (FTB), located at 557 Innovation Way in Daytona Beach, Florida, stands as a premier 10,000+ square-foot aviation research facility adjacent to Daytona Beach International Airport and within sight of the Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University campus. Serving as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laboratory, the FTB provides a secure, agile, and innovative setting for pioneering advances in air traffic management technology.
Facility Overview
The FTB boasts over 10,000 square feet of dedicated research and demonstration space, purpose-built to simulate real-world National Airspace System (NAS) conditions. Its strategic location near a major airport and a leading aviation university further enhances opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
Key Capabilities
At the heart of the facility is a private, cloud-like research environment offering on-demand, scalable infrastructure as a service (IaaS) for a variety of projects. The advanced virtualization and storage systems support hundreds of virtual machines interconnected over a high-speed 10GB network and provide more than 70 terabytes of flash storage. All research and development activities are protected by a secure, closed network that is not available to the public, ensuring the utmost safety of both data and experiments. Furthermore, the FTB holds a fully sanctioned Security Authorization to Operate (ATO), meaning all activities meet stringent federal cybersecurity requirements.
Our Spaces
The Integration Suite, occupying half of the facility, offers a modern environment for development, rigorous testing, and integration. It is equipped with workstations and private offices for visiting engineers as well as video conferencing capabilities for up to 20 participants. This space supports the prototyping and integration of air traffic control systems, simulating the dynamics of the NAS and enabling collaborative evaluation and refinement of operational scenarios.
The Demonstration Suite is designed for showcasing and presenting integrated technologies. This flexible area features reconfigurable bays to simulate various flight domains, large screen displays, audio/visual resources for immersive briefings, and theatrical seating to ensure optimal viewing and stakeholder engagement. Here, researchers and partners can demonstrate the maturity and effectiveness of their solutions in a dynamic, observable environment.
Data Center & Infrastructure
At the core of the FTB lies its advanced data center, which is capable of supporting complex simulations and a broad range of development tasks. The center delivers a flexible, virtualized R&D environment, complete with simulation tools that can emulate nearly every aspect of NAS operations. Strict access controls and security vetting are applied to all hardware and software integrations, making the data center comparable to a commercial cloud provider but with more rigorous controls due to its national research status.
Access & Collaboration
Access to the Florida Test Bed is reserved for those involved in active FAA research projects or service contracts. Unlike public cloud offerings, FTB resources are allocated based on the specific needs of each project and undergo thorough security evaluations prior to deployment. This approach, combined with a collaborative spirit between government, industry, and academia, ensures that research is both safe and cutting-edge.
Private Network Environment: Private Network Environment allowing the co-location of participant software and equipment, eliminating issues that are caused by geographical dispersion.
Access to NAS Systems and Software: Access to simulation and developmental systems and software capable of emulating of nearly all aspects of NAS operations.
Secure Environment: Operate in a highly secure lab that meets stringent FAA cybersecurity standards with a full Security Authorization that ensures compliance and operational readiness.
Maintaining and upgrading the United States Air Transportation System is a massive undertaking that requires the collaboration of countless agencies, corporations, and individuals. That spirit of cooperation for the purpose of advancing ATM concepts and procedures is on display daily in our ERAU FTB Programs.
ERAU has worked with the following partner list on its projects and demonstrations. The program is constantly looking to bring on new partners with subject matter expertise and systems to support the ATM research goals and modernization efforts.
Industry Collaboration
International Partnerships
The Test Bed allows for concept demonstrations and evaluations that have or will lead to implementation decision making in the following areas:
Cybersecurity
Commercial Space
Human Factors
International Harmonization and Interoperability
Live Flight Demonstrations
NAS Automation Improvements
Trajectory Based Operations
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), UAS Traffic Management Systems (UTM) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Here is an example of previous projects that have been conducted by the PMO:
Multi-Regional Trajectory Based Operation Project (MR TBO)
As the National Airspace System (NAS) and global Air Traffic Management (ATM) continue to evolve into Trajectory Based Operations (TBO), precise trajectory predictions will require enhancement and expansion of current capabilities to preserve or increase available airspace capacity and efficiency while also maintaining safety standards. TBO is an ATM initiative that enhances strategic planning under changing conditions, providing the information and capabilities to help expedite aircraft movement between origin and destination airports. Knowledge of specific information for each flight shared with stakeholders increases effective strategic planning for both Airspace Users and ANSPs. The Connected Aircraft makes this possible and is an important element of TBO, which will result in improved strategic planning with a reduction of more costly tactical changes. With this enhanced information, TBO will shift from a voice-based set of exchanges between participants to an environment primarily involving data sharing and exchange across interoperable systems supported by global data standards.
The FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) have undertaken the MR TBO project to collaborate and demonstrate TBO concepts with a live flight demonstration. The FAA, along with global partners, developed operational scenarios that align with the TBO concept and highlight operational value across the regions. The MR TBO Live Flight Demonstration took place over six days, highlighting flights between the various regions. The MR TBO team in collaboration with partners developed four scenarios for execution during the live flight demonstration event. Segment 1 operated between Seattle, Washington, to Narita, Japan, with Segment 4 operating from Bangkok, Thailand, to Seattle, Washington. Segments 2 and 3 are in collaboration among JCAB, AEROTHAI and CAAS.
Overview
The Embry‑Riddle Project Management Office (PMO) is uniquely positioned to manage the strategic planning and execution of complex aviation and aerospace projects. With a proven track record in managing large, interdisciplinary teams, we ensure smooth coordination across diverse stakeholders and project phases. Whether managing advanced aviation technologies or ensuring compliance with safety standards, the Embry‑Riddle PMO is committed to delivering excellence and innovation in the aviation industry.
Trust and Communication: Importance of transparency and regular communication
Shared Vision: Ensuring alignment on long-term goals
Contractual Agreements: Defining terms and responsibilities clearly
The PMO excels in stakeholder management, fostering strong collaboration and communication with all parties involved, from government agencies to industry partners. We are also highly adept at coordinating the efforts of large and diverse teams, ensuring that all contributors are aligned and working efficiently toward common project goals. Excellence in interpersonal relationships and communication is at the heart of our work, allowing us to build trust and maintain clarity throughout every phase of a project.
Background
The PMO was initially established to oversee and coordinate multi-million-dollar initiatives with the FAA’s NextGen programs. The PMO has grown to actively engage faculty and students in cutting-edge research and development efforts. The PMO fosters collaboration across the university, supporting both academic and industry partnerships to drive success and innovation in the aviation industry.
The Embry‑Riddle Project Management Office (PMO) oversees the strategic planning and execution of various aviation and aerospace initiatives, ensuring projects are managed efficiently and aligned with institutional goals. The PMO plays a crucial role in advancing Embry‑Riddle’s research and development efforts.
Value of the PMO
Using a Project Management Office (PMO) ensures your project is run with strategic oversight, aligning each phase with organizational objectives. Extensive experience in managing complex stakeholder relationships among government, industry and academia ensures seamless collaboration and alignment across sectors.
Our team brings extensive experience in systems engineering and integration, ensuring that complex aviation systems are designed and implemented seamlessly. We are highly skilled in managing live flight operations, which requires real-time coordination, strict adherence to safety protocols and an in-depth understanding of safety risk management processes. Our expertise also extends to unmanned systems, where we navigate both the technical and regulatory challenges involved in deploying advanced air mobility technologies.
In addition, the PMO offers expert resource and risk management, optimizing the use of time, budget and personnel to achieve maximum efficiency. We are proactive in anticipating and mitigating potential risks and issues, ensuring that projects stay on track and within scope. Our in-depth knowledge of program and technical activities allows us to oversee all facets of project execution, from technical design and testing to regulatory compliance and final delivery.
The PMO and University Resources
In addition to our robust internal capabilities, we have access to a wide range of faculty across multiple disciplines, allowing us to leverage their expertise as subject matter experts. This access to top-tier faculty strengthens our ability to tackle complex technical and strategic challenges, offering valuable insights and cutting-edge knowledge across each stage of project development.
We are also passionate about elevating students and enhancing their educational experience through direct hires as project management assistants and internship programs. By providing hands-on opportunities, we help students build critical skills in real-world project environments, preparing the next generation of aviation and aerospace leaders. Our commitment to integrating students into our work ensures that they gain valuable exposure to high-stakes industry projects, contributing fresh perspectives while benefiting from mentorship and practical experience.
