Air travel gets an assist in three areas

[question everything]

Air travel gets an assist in three areas

By Debbi Farr Baker
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

1:46 p.m. July 13, 2005

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The first of these procedures, which began in January, is a trigger delay system that keeps planes from taking off and flying into an area that is already experiencing congestion. That means that if one airport is having flight slowdowns, for whatever reason, flights departing for that location are kept on the ground rather than allowed to fly into the congested airspace.

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The second procedure allows planes flying at an altitude of 29,000 feet or more to fly within 1,000 feet above or below another jet. The old standard was 2,000 feet. This doubles the amount of airspace available, Buckles said. Pilots must be certified to fly in this configuration.

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The third procedure, which has been in use for the last six years, involves a sophisticated onboard navigation system that automatically guides pilots into their descents. The system allows pilots to land without having to have as many as 25 verbal exchanges with ground controllers while landing.

This frees up both the pilots and the controllers, giving them more time to look into the skies around them. That can be of crucial importance, especially at a busy urban airport like Lindbergh, Buckles explained.

Put together, the three systems help reduce expenses, cut fuel usage and reduce fatigue and stress in both pilots and air traffic controllers, making travel safer and better for travelers, Buckles said.

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Baker: [phone]; [e-mail]


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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050713-1346-bn13travel.html

[MercutioATC]

1. #1 has been in place for YEARS (just not automated).

#2 is called RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minima) and definitely makes things easier.

#3 is a combination of FMS (Flight Management System) and STARs (Standard Terminal Arrival Routes).

Of the three, RVSM is the only real news, and it's been in place in Europe for 6 years.