Air Traffic Control 'Free Flight' System

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a brief overview of the "free flight" system of air traffic control and compares it with the present air traffic control system. The paper also describes the limitations of the current air traffic system and then goes on to explain how the 'free flight' system promises efficiency and profitability for the airline industry.

From the Paper:

"With more than 50,000 flights taking to the skies everyday the present US air traffic control system places increasing strain on the control room staff who have the responsibility of tracking, guiding and directing the pilots. Under the current system, the air traffic controllers resolve conflicts in airspace using radar signals and regulating traffic by means of adjusting the altitude and speed limit of the different flights. As James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association, says, "All of the information that flows to and from a pilot today in virtually all aircraft is done on a strictly single-voice channel, back and forth, with human beings actually saying all the words live. As anyone can imagine, that is an extremely inefficient way to convey data." [Jacques Leslie] Pilots are dependent upon the instructions from the control room to avoid conflicts and disaster in airspace. Once the aircraft is cleared by the departure controller and left the TRACON (terminal radar control) airspace, it is monitored enroute by the personnel in the ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) who continue to provide the pilots with the traffic, altitude and speed instructions. [Craig C. Freudenrich Ph.D] For most airways however, the stipulated altitude, route and speed restrictions do not contribute to optimal efficiency."

More papers on Air Traffic Control 'Free Flight' System:

• Analytical Essay # 119585 : "Free Flight System"
• Essay # 137933 : "Air Traffic Control"
• Term Paper # 149962 : "Issues in Air Traffic Control"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: