Ask AP: Better Air Traffic Control?

Adam Unregistered

• Ask AP: Better Air Traffic Control?

• PlusAsk AP: Better Air Traffic Control?Ask AP: Better Air Traffic Control?The Associated PressWill a change from radar to GPS-based air traffic control really reduce flight delays? Email your question to newsquestions@ap.org. (June 12)[Notesn camera] Im Matt Friedman and this is Ask AP. Todays question is about the way planes find their way. [Notes:transition to graphic]Thomas McAffee of Little Rock, Arkansas wants to know how changing the way planes are directed on their routes will effect flight delays.The federal government has a multi-billion-dollar proposal to replace ground based radar used for air traffic control. Instead, it wants to use the Global Positioning Satellite System. AP Transportation Writer Michael Sniffen says GPS would reduce the distances now required between aircraft. It would allow more flights in the air. But, he says air traffic controllers and other experts say the number of available runways limits flights and is a key contributor to delays. [Notesn camera]If you have a question for Ask AP, email us at newsquestions@ap.org. Im Matt Friedman. The Associated Press. ___ ___, The Associated Press.

• ---

• http://www.stuckmic.com/atcvideos_sh...beid=94&t=2963

Meshyf Newcomer California

Whats the deal with all the negative footage? Other than that I think GPS will help keep planes safe in the air but wont really affect the delays and such. Most airlines don't get too lost using the ground based systems.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Only thing that will help with delays are more runways. Sure you can get the plane there faster and closer together, but you can still only land one plane at a time. Its like hurry up and wait.

Not only that but every airplane will have to be equipped with new special equipment and im sure its not cheap. There are plenty of homebuilts/experimentals who are still using a headset plugged into a handheld radio. Do you think they want to dish out $1000 plus for something else? plus look at the airline companies... they have thousands of planes and that adds up fast.

Also, if a pilot decides to not turn that GPS based equipment on then they are completely invisible to us. That could be disastrous.

These are all things that Ive read about it and im by far not an expert on this subject so feel free to chime in and correct any of my misleading info, haha. BUT you dont need special knowledge to realize it wont reduce delays, not to mention the billions of dollars it will cost for no true gain.

polo708 Epic Member tower

We cant forget solar anomalies like sunspots and sunflares... these things can knock out an entire system totally. Can they truly make it full proof?

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Not to mention that even with augmentation like WAAS, GPS can still be a few miles off from a plane's actual location. One of the first things you're taught when it comes to GPS is to not rely on for precise measurements (i.e. navigating close to airspace). Of course, plenty of people do anyway... and then get yelled at when they wander into class bravo unannounced.