Many of the new technologies needed to improve the National Airspace System
are currently being developed and tested. In general, these new technologies
and systems touch upon the following concepts:
Free Flight
Allows a pilot to modify the flight plan and change course from the assigned
airway to a more direct route that would be more economical and more efficient
without compromising safety.
Navigation
Make greater use of the US satellite network through the use of improved GPS
and DGPS systems and equipment to better track and guide aircraft. This would
lead to a safe reduction in the distance between airplanes in the air.
Air Traffic System
Continue to modernize the air traffic facilities to provide for improved communications
of flight and weather data.
Relieve the Congestion
Develop new aircraft and small aircraft technologies that make flying directly
to and from the secondary airports more efficient and economical to operate.
This would relieve the overcrowded conditions at the major airports that is
caused by the many small aircraft transporting passengers into these hubs.
These passengers then board other small aircraft flights that take them out
to the small, secondary airports.