Work Proposal: TAK-Based Situational Awareness System for Small Airline Aircraft Maintenance and Safety

William Thompson

@Thompson__Li

LikableLogic.org

To: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Office of Aviation Safety

Subject: Proposal for Proof of Concept (POC) to Enhance Aircraft Maintenance Efficiency and Safety Using Team Awareness Kit (TAK) Technology

Dear FAA Representatives,

As a software developer and founder of Likable Logic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to education and innovative solutions for global challenges, I respectfully submit this proposal for a Proof of Concept (POC) leveraging the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) platform for small airline aircraft maintenance operations.

The proposed system replaces traditional GPS-based tracking with TAK’s advanced situational awareness capabilities to monitor aircraft parts locations, delivery timelines, and maintenance team coordination. The objective is to improve maintenance efficiency, reduce operational risk, and enhance overall aircraft safety.

This initiative aligns directly with Likable Logic’s mission to address critical safety challenges through open, collaborative technology. The POC will be developed as an open project hosted at likablelogic.org, enabling transparency, evaluation, and future scalability for potential FAA adoption.

Background on TAK Technology

The Team Awareness Kit (TAK) is a Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) situational awareness platform originally developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). It enables real-time sharing of geospatial data, location tracking, messaging, and mission coordination across heterogeneous devices and networks, including disconnected and degraded environments.

TAK consists of mobile clients such as ATAK (Android) and TAKAware (iOS), supported by a TAK Server responsible for data synchronization, integration, and security enforcement. The platform has been successfully deployed in military, emergency response, and public safety aviation contexts.

Notably, TAK has been integrated into aviation environments for airspace awareness, including tracking drones, civilian aircraft, and public safety helicopters. The Texas Department of Public Safety, for example, employs TAK to visualize ADS-B aircraft data, friendly drones, and unknown aerial objects within a unified operational picture. This precedent demonstrates TAK’s suitability as a robust alternative or augmentation to traditional GPS-based systems.

Proposed Proof of Concept: TAK for Small Airline Maintenance

The proposed POC will demonstrate how TAK can be applied to small airline maintenance workflows by providing real-time visibility into parts logistics, delivery status, and personnel coordination. This directly supports FAA safety objectives by reducing maintenance delays, improving situational awareness, and minimizing procedural errors.

POC Objectives

  • Track aircraft parts locations and estimated delivery times to maintenance hangars.
  • Provide maintenance teams with real-time visibility of parts, vehicles, and personnel.
  • Integrate with existing maintenance management systems via APIs for alerts and reporting.
  • Ensure compliance with FAA data security, reliability, and operational standards.

Key Components

  • TAK Server: Deployment of a secure, cloud-native TAK Server acting as the central hub for encrypted data exchange.
  • Mobile Clients: ATAK and TAKAware applications used by maintenance teams for live mapping and status updates.
  • Integration: Replacement of conventional GPS tracking with TAK geospatial tools, ETA calculations, and automated notifications.
  • Security and Compliance: Use of TAK’s encryption, access control, and authentication mechanisms, including optional OKTA integration.

Implementation Plan

  • Phase 1 (1–2 weeks): TAK Server setup in a controlled test environment.
  • Phase 2 (2–4 weeks): Development of maintenance-focused interfaces and integrations.
  • Phase 3 (1 week): Testing using simulated aircraft maintenance scenarios.
  • Estimated Budget: $5,000–$10,000, primarily for development effort.

Benefits for FAA Consideration

  • Improved maintenance safety through real-time situational awareness.
  • Cost-effective alternative to proprietary tracking solutions for small operators.
  • Scalable architecture aligned with FAA NextGen modernization initiatives.

This Proof of Concept will be documented and maintained as an open project under Likable Logic’s aviation safety initiative. It is intended to serve as a collaborative blueprint for future FAA pilots, industry partners, and regulatory evaluation.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this proposal further. I may be contacted at admin@likablelogic.org.