On June 8, 2005, the FAA announced a commendation for the ETMS development team, including RLM, for the successful deployment of ETMS version 8.0 two days earlier. Don Ward, Acting Director for Systems Operations Programs for the FAA says of the project, "Since the software was deployed, there have been no notable problems, which is particulary laudable considering the severe weather events this week. The fact that this release was delivered prior to the Flight Plan deadline and has performed so successfully is simply amazing. The ability to deliver on-time and per-spec is paramount to the ATO and this achievement gives our program office additional credibility in the eyes of the Executive Council."

The ETMS deployment included a significant infrastructure modernization component where computers and telecommunications equipment at the Volpe Center ETMS Hub site and over 75 FAA field sites were successfully upgraded resulting in a considerable increase in processing speed and capacity for handling air traffic information. ETMS 8.0 contains new traffic flow management decision support tools that enhance the ability of traffic managers to reroute air traffic around severe weather. In addition, this release provided several enhancements to ETMS Traffic Situation Display - a tool that monitors the position of air traffic and helps to determine the traffic demand on airports and sectors. A common Air Traffic situational awareness makes possible collaborative decision-making between FAA, air carriers, and military operations. This leads to improved aviation efficiency and safety.