(Wine tasting) Free Flight - Its Potential Impact
By Peter Salmonford
Free flight is a very intriguing technology because it could potentially revolutionize the way in which we manage air traffic.
Instead of flying very set flight paths under the direction of FAA air traffic controllers, free flight technology will permit aircraft to fly the most direct and most efficient route between destinations. This new technology has the potential to increase airspace capacity, boost airport capacity through more efficient use of runways, lattice delays, and provide billions in savings to air carriers.
Of course, air safety must always be our primary consideration, and I am aware that reservations exist about moving too quickly with this technology. Our efforts to improve air space capacity and efficiency should not in any way come at the expense f safety.
And with regard to efficiency, FAA has managed this task well, although recent developments in navigation and communications technologies and changes in the manner in which air carriers deploy and schedule aircraft have led many in the industry to question the current regime of positive control and continued reliance on the defined system of airways.
Under positive control, the air traffic controller directs all aircraft movements on the ground and in the air. The pilot flying an instrument flight LAN cannot deviate from an assigned altitude or heading unless first receiving permission. And, as indicated here, under free flight, a pilot would not necessarily rely on an air traffic controller for direction except to the extent the controller seeks to resolve potential conflicts.
Free flight is just one of the topics that Peter likes to write about. Check out his other articles about Fuel Cell Cars, HHO Gas and DUI charges.
Find Wine Tasting Tours Around The World
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Leave a Reply