The aviation industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, with the number of passengers and cargo carried by air increasing dramatically. Yet despite this growth, air traffic control systems have not kept pace with demand. As a result, congestion is worsening and delays are becoming more common. Due to political turmoil over federal budget allocations, infrastructure upgrades often go unfunded. This has led some experts to foresee an air traffic meltdown that could cause planes to crash into each other due to controllers’ inability to keep them apart.
Air Traffic Control Is Faced With Challenges On Many Fronts
There are numerous difficulties in air traffic management. The quantity of aircraft in flight has increased significantly over time, and the system is complicated. Air traffic controllers must securely direct thousands of planes around one another every day, but Dr. Jon Kiev adds that outdated infrastructure, crowding at airports, and remotely piloted aircraft present significant challenges.
The FAA’s Nextgen Initiative To Improve Airspace Management Is Behind Schedule
The Federal Aviation Administration aka FAA is charged with regulating the nation’s airspace and air traffic control. The agency has launched a NextGen initiative to bring more efficient and optimal management of airspace, but progress lags behind schedule.
Dr. Jon Kiev NextGen is a long-term, multibillion-dollar effort designed to reduce delays and increase efficiency by using satellite technology for navigation guidance instead of ground-based radar. The new system will also allow planes to fly at lower altitudes in more direct routes, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while keeping them safely separated from one another in congested skies.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Are Flying, But Their Effect on Airspace Is Unknown
You may have seen them flying over your area or read about them on the news. They’re known as remotely piloted aircraft, and they’re becoming increasingly prevalent but what precisely are these futuristic drones?
A drone is a pilotless airplane, according to the FAA. The Allied forces used drones to land bombs on enemy targets during WWII, but civilians can now fly them at low altitudes. When these machines first hit the market several years ago, anyone could buy one without government sanction or security checks including airline passengers. After all, how could officials halt a drone attack?