Frequently Asked Questions

Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
on the TTI WASP System

What is a typical WASP system?
The typical WASP systems in use at airports today combine the traditional elements of airport video surveillance and access control with an Aircraft Tail Number Identification System (ATNIS) on a common wireless communication network – One system for both surveillance and aircraft movements.

How long does it take to install a WASP system?
A 10 camera system can be installed within a period of 3 weeks actual on-site work. Additional units for communication to gate controllers, cameras, other data, or to extend the network (for example to a police station) can take as little as one day. The use of solar power can significantly reduce on-site installation time.

How will TTI work with me to install the system?
TTI will consult with you to determine the objectives of the system and will then develop a preliminary budget proposal that maximizes the systems features towards the primary objective. A full contract proposal will be developed after an on-site meeting with the customer and sub-contractors and survey of the RF environment, power, camera, and equipment locations is completed. TTI will work with the customers existing contractors as needed or required in getting the system installed.

Can the WASP system integrate with other network security systems at my airport?
Yes. WASP can be configured for standard open Ethernet Internet Protocol (IP) and IEEE 802.11 wireless communication or for a wireless proprietary protocol, which means WASP can communicate on and with equipment and devices on an IP computer network. Each WASP unit is a fully functional router on a single board computer running a very powerful LINUX based operating system.

Can WASP use video feeds from my current cameras? How about gate controls?
Yes. WASP is camera and data independent and accepts inputs from both analogue and digital video cameras as well as Ethernet inputs from gate controllers and other sensors. If your equipment can communicate on an IP network, WASP will move the data.

How is WASP able to obtain clear readings on tail numbers from the wide variety of large to medium size jets to small piston-powered aircraft and different types of graphics used to display tail numbers?
WASP uses several technologies including commercially available high quality day/night cameras with Infrared (IR) cut filters for best performance in low light and no light IR conditions. When WASP detects an aircraft, several pictures are taken to ensure enough frames are available for decoding as the aircraft position changes relative to lighting, angle, reflections, etc. A combination of software analysis and human verification provide extremely high accuracy in reading tail numbers.

Will there be a need to upgrade or replace software or hardware in the near future?
Since WASP is a hosted SQL Database solution and runs on Windows Internet Explorer Browser, no customer software is required to access aircraft information and run reports. The Linux OS of the individual WASP/ATNIS units are periodically upgraded remotely by TTI as part of the monitoring and service contract. If the customer requires a local on-site Network Video Recorder with application software, TTI will manage the system as part of the service contract. No hardware upgrades are required.

Has TSA or FAA seen your system in action? If so, what has been their impression?
WASP has been demonstrated to TSA and FAA as well as other government agencies and at trade shows. The first impression we get consistently is “WOW! What a great system. I’ve never seen anything like this before, it has so many applications.”

How does the WASP system work if there is an incident in the middle of the night at an untended general aviation airport?
WASP operates 24/7/365. Within seconds after an aircraft is detected by ATNIS, our monitoring center is decoding the tail number and automatically registering it to the central SQL database. When the aircraft is registered, WASP queries all active Aircraft Watch Lists and immediately sends an electronic alert to all corresponding designated alert recipients (responders). The alert message includes pre-defined instructions along with snap-shot photographs and a hot link to a live streaming video PTZ camera for remote viewing, recording, tracking and investigation.

Is all the information collected by the WASP confidential?
Yes.

If an aircraft is placed on watch by the DEA, FBI, FAA or TSA, how will my airport know that? Do I need to have the WASP system?
A WASP system user or agency is given graduated permission rights by an Airport WASP System Administrator. An Airport System Administrator can assign users with various levels of permission and privileges within their assigned airport(s) including the ability to assign users and agencies permission to place an aircraft on watch. A user’s watch list however is unique and can only be viewed and edited by the user (author) who created it. However, airport personnel may be listed by the watch list author as “alert recipients” in which case they would have received a test notification message from WASP indicating their inclusion on a user’s watch list..

Will our airport personnel be trained on the WASP system? How long will training take?
A one day onsite or interactive web training session will be scheduled at the request of the WASP Airport System Administrator. Since the application is fully web based, much of the system is familiar and intuitive to computer users. Basic training for system users takes 1 hour. Training for the Administrator takes 2 hours.

Do I get a log of all activity at my airport from WASP Central? Daily? Weekly?
Yes. Reports are at the heart of the WASP system. Users can choose to run reports from a selection of “quick view” formats or create, name and save their own custom formatted reports. All reports can be scheduled to execute, save and send (via email) based on date and time and/or other criteria such as: an alert condition, flight plan not closed, total transient landings exceeded a given value during a given time period, etc.

Do my base and transient customers maintain their privacy?
The WASP airport system Administrator is responsible for setting up user privileges that are consistent with their airport and/or agency policy requirements for data privacy. WASP offers a wide selection of graduated permission and privileges that form a layered approach to data access and restriction.

Can I share information with state or federal agencies? How is this accomplished?
Airports may agree to share information with other airports, FBOs and agencies by a form of their own agreement. The airport system Administrators are responsible for information shared in accordance with their agreements

How much does it cost?
A typical General Aviation Airport budget would be $100k to $250K depending upon customer requirements. 

Are there funding opportunities open to me? Is state or federal funding available?
WASP is a dual use surveillance system that expands airport funding sources by providing real benefit and return on investment (ROI) while primarily functioning as an airport surveillance asset.

Airport stakeholders and agencies such as TSA, DEA, Border Patrol and Local Law Enforcement have expressed a willingness to participate in funding WASP systems that provide them with law enforcement tools which they currently do not have. Similarly, we have found state DOT’s and the FAA interested in partial funding of the WASP system. Their interest is in the cost reduction associated with the current system of collecting data (5010 program) and the WASP data accuracy, which can help in their own funding decisions to better drive the economic impact from airports. Other value has been expressed in added value features such as quickly finding the status of an aircraft that did not close a flight plan.

While some airport stakeholders may not be interested in funding a system that provides information for landing fees or produces an alert on stolen aircraft, we have found all are interested in partnership projects that offer unique benefits and ROI for specific needs and where not one stakeholder has to foot the whole bill.

The Florida Airports Councils support for legislative changes to Chapter 332, Florida Statutes; to extend the 100 percent State grant funding for security projects from 2007 to 2012; and re-focus the funding towards security related capital projects at general aviation and commercial service airports.

In another example, the States Voluntary Security Program (VSP) provides funding for projects to enhance the security of public-use general aviation airports in Virginia. A GA declared as a “Secure Virginia Airport” can receive funding for security improvement projects. External and internal surveillance systems are listed as eligible for VSP funding.

Where can I get more information?
www.ttiwireless.com. A list of airport references and customers is available.