The Future of Flight

The Federal Aviation Administration is currently trying to implement their new Next Generation of Air Traffic Control known better as NextGen. NextGen is next form of ATC currently we use equipment like ground based radar in order to track aircraft however this is causing problems. There are still locations around the country and even the world where radar coverage is extremely low even non existent. NextGen uses satellite based coverage called Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B).

ADS-B is a satellite based surveillance system that can track aircraft locations and altitudes. This will allow for the planes to be located more easily. This has allowed for more accurate and more direct flight then we would normally have, 

as seen on this page http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/snapshots/stories/?slide=31

While this equipment is a wonderful advance in technology it is having its drawbacks first is the expense and second it is not going to be fully operational until 2025. This is due to poor planning on behalf of the government. It must also be spread to all air carriers and this takes some time.

For commercial airliners I think this is a good idea because it will allow for the planes to see each other a little better. However commercial airliners are already pretty safe, I think NextGen equipment would be best served in the General Aviation world. Presently aircraft are only required to have transponders which can show a planes’ location in certain areas if you go outside of those areas then they are not required. This has led to some accidents with NextGen equipped planes you will be able to see their location and altitude and know if you will have an issue I think that this would be best utilized at non towered airports or in places like Alaska where there are a lot of planes in the air.

Now while I believe that the NextGen equipment is great it does have one major drawback, it is extremely expensive. While I would like to see this used in the GA world I can understand why people don’t want it. The GA world is filled with people like you and me who don’t make a whole lot of money, and while they make enough to say they own an airplane many struggle just to keep the plane airworthy, therefore they cannot afford the cost of NextGen equipment such as ADS-B.

I feel that the airlines should have to pay a majority of the cost for they would be the primary users of the equipment but in the case of ATC I think it is acceptable to use some of the money obtained from taxes. While I like everyone hate paying taxes I think for the flying public it would be somewhat acceptable due to an increase in safety and a decrease in delays.

 While I think NextGen equipment while obviously expensive I whole heartedly support the idea. It will make flying a lot safer because it will tell ATC when planes are near each other it will also allow for ATC to find airplanes quicker. On top of that it will allow other pilots to see each other so, if for some reason ATC is not paying attention or hasn’t noticed that two planes are near each other the pilots themselves can see each other and correct the issue. It will also allow for more precise location of planes and storms so that you don’t have to divert around a storm as far as you normally would.

For more information about ADS-B and NextGen check out these sites.

http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/

http://www.natca.org/legislative_current_issues.aspx?zone=Legislative-Current%20Issues&pID=200