| ATC controllers also supply vital information and | | | | controllers expected to become system managers, |
| support to aircraft pilots, such as revisions to flight | | | | intervening manually to make more complex decisions |
| orders and weather warnings. | | | | and changes when necessary. |
| The Proposal: Free Flight | | | | The flight plans of many commercial airlines are |
| Currently, the US is exploring a significant | | | | already largely assisted by specialised software, |
| transformation in the format of its ATC system, with | | | | calculating fuel, cost and distance to plan the most |
| free flight proposed to begin operation within the | | | | economical route for a journey, whilst considering |
| next decade. The US expects the FAA's NextGen | | | | unforeseen circumstances such as diversions from |
| ATC communication and surveillance program to be | | | | ATC controllers and changes in landing location. |
| installed successfully in commercial aircraft by 2025. | | | | The FAA plan to introduce the NextGen program |
| The concept of the NextGen free flight equipment is | | | | with caution, installing it at smaller airports until its |
| the idea of scrapping centralized air traffic control and | | | | safety has been demonstrated - this approach has |
| primary reliance on controllers, replacing them with | | | | been referred to as an "off-broadway introduction" |
| reserved airspace via computer communication to | | | | by the FAA. |
| achieve safe aircraft separation. The program will | | | | One of NextGen's main advantages is that it will |
| replace traditional ATC radar systems with a | | | | negate the need for pilots to take indirect flight |
| satellite-based technology similar to GPS technology | | | | routes to remain within the radar range of an airport. |
| seen in cars. | | | | The technology will deliver continuous real-time |
| The key notion of free flight is that ultimate | | | | information to ATC controllers and pilots with |
| responsibility for the aircraft and flight lies with the | | | | impressive accuracy. |
| pilot. This developing ATC method decentralizes | | | | One major vulnerability of NextGen is the |
| control, replacing it with distributed, computer-based | | | | requirement for immediate backup in the event of |
| communication to ensure that aircraft remain in their | | | | GPS failure. A system failure can leave the pilot with |
| flight space throughout each journey. | | | | no flight navigation information, potentially creating an |
| The role of ATC controllers is recognised as one of | | | | ATC disaster. Current rules of GPS aircraft operations |
| today's most stressful jobs, with the pressure of | | | | state that a backup method of flight control must be |
| guiding simultaneous flights through one airspace in | | | | available in case of GPS interruptions. |
| safety an integral part of the role. With this in mind, | | | | With huge air traffic congestion problems causing |
| to what extent will a flight's fate rest on a computer | | | | disruption to flights across the US and even larger |
| system? | | | | estimated annual expense, general opinion seems to |
| The introduction of a largely automated ATC system | | | | be that NextGen is long overdue. The ATC industry |
| is unlikely to negate the need for controllers | | | | is no doubt on the brink of a shake-up, but the USA |
| altogether, instead largely supporting them with the | | | | is almost ready to guide it into the future. |
| cupply of integrated information management- with | | | | |