National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center

The National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC) was founded July 1, 1958, by the Airways Modernization Board (AMB) and located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, near Atlantic City, New Jersey. On November 1, 1959, after passage of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, it came under the newly created US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).[1] Its purpose was to conduct research and development on air traffic control computers, transponders, and advanced radar equipment. The success (in terms of funding and research activity) eventually forced the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) to close its own Technical Evaluation and Development Center in Indianapolis starting in 1959.

The computerized air traffic control developed at NAFEC was based on the IBM 9020, special hardware developed by IBM. Software was developed by NAFEC, IBM, and under contract to Computer Usage Company.[2] The system remained in operation until the 1980s.[3] The former 1942 Naval Air Station became the Atlantic City International Airport,[4] and the center is now called the William J. Hughes Technical Center, named for William J. Hughes.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "FAA Historical Chronology, 1926–1996". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ George R. Trimble Jr. (June 24, 2005). "CUC History". Computer History Museum. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  3. ↑ Robert L. Glass (1998). In the beginning: personal recollections of software pioneers. IEEE Computer Society. ISBN 978-0-8186-7999-5.
  4. ↑ "Atlantic City Naval Air Station, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey fact sheet". US Army Corps of Engineers. December 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ "William J. Hughes Technical Center". Federal Aviation Administration web site. Retrieved June 2, 2010.

External links