Federal Aviation Administration

Recovery Communications Maintenance (RCOM) The Recovery Communications (RCOM) Program, mandated by a variety of national level documents including Executive Orders and National Security Decision Directives, was established to encompass all FAA emergency command and control communications (C3) systems and projects under one program. Emergency C3 systems are defined as those means of communications that the FAA employs to direct management, operations, and reconstitution of the National Airspace system (NAS) in support of FAA, DOT, and DOD missions during national disasters or national security emergencies. The FAA maintains a variety of fixed-position, portable, and transportable C3 communications systems for use in support of emergency operations. Such C3 system includes; RCOM/NARACS High Frequency/Single Side Band (HF/SSB), Defense Messaging System (DMS), Very High Frequency/Frequency Modulated (VHF/FM), Secure Telephone Equipment (STE), Secure Facsimile, satellite telephone network (AMSC), Automated Notification System (ANS), Secure Conferencing System (SCS), and the Communications Support Teams (CST). The AND-360 Product Team manages and administers the acquisition and implementation of these line systems, that are in various stages of the Acquisition Management System (AMS). In 1995, AAF-1 approved the deployment of the RCOM HF/SSB Upgrades and a five-year contract was awarded to Eastern Computer Incorporated (ECI) for the purpose of upgrading the RCOM/ National Radio Communications System (NARACS). ECI has installed the RCOM HF/SSB upgrade at all the Region Offices and Emergency Operations Centers, and is the final phases of installing the NARACS/ALE upgrades at all Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs). Spares were procured and a ten-year warranty was included in the ECI contract. The FAA Academy has two RCOM Operator and Maintenance direct study courses available for enrollment and is currently developing a RCOM CBI training package. The existing VHF/FM network deployment was accomplished in each of the nine regions during 1983 through 1986 to allow the FAA to meet both internal emergency communications requirements. These regional VHF/FM networks, which are still operating, are comprised of hand held and mobile radios along with an infrastructure of fixed radio base stations and repeaters. The FAA must replace these existing VHF/FM networks in order to comply with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) mandate that requires transition from 25 kHz to 12.5kHz channel spacing by Dec. 2004. In 1998, the RCOM program was in the process of procuring COTS VHF/FM radio equipment when funds were reprogrammed to other higher priority Agency programs two weeks prior to a contact award. Currently the VHF/FM network is being redefined in the C3 Mission Need Statement (MNS). The Department of Defense is phasing out the Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) and is incorporating secure messaging capabilities, along with many other applications, into the much broader Defense Message System (DMS). The FAA used the AUTODIN system as a means of sending and receiving classified and unclassified message traffic in support of air traffic, DOD, and FAA command and control. A temporary solution is currently being implemented, utilizing existing equipment, and dial-up circuits. This dial-up solution has a life span until Dec 2001 and must be replaced with DMS compliant equipment. The FAA is currently developing a DMS solution that may include a MOAs with the US Army for connection into the DMS network and procurement of DMS equipment.

The most common PL tone used on the RCOM system is 136.5. In a few areas, a second PL may be used. Channels 6 and 9 may be in use by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at some airports.

165.6375

165.7500

165.7625

164.0250

164.0500