Source: Washington Post
Federal aviation officials say they will switch the entire U.S. plane monitoring system from radar to global satellite positioning by 2014.
Marion Blakey, head of the Federal Aviation Administration, said air travel will be safer airlines will spend less money on monitoring flights.
USA Today reports the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, or ADS-B, will provide more detailed information to ground control on planes in the air than the current radar service provides.
It will transmit information to pilots in the air, something the current system doesn't do.
ADS-B has undergone testing routes in Alaska and Australia and by UPS at its Louisville, Ky., hub.
The FAA said in its Tuesday announcement it will fully replace the current radar system, starting with a limited transition by 2010 and in its entirety by 2014.
Airlines are worried it will cost them too much, but the FAA said after an initial investment of $600 million, the system will save the airlines $1.3 billion.
/* Of course this is after the FAA has shut down a portion of the Alaska Capstone program without explaination. */ :unsure:
Federal aviation officials say they will switch the entire U.S. plane monitoring system from radar to global satellite positioning by 2014.
Marion Blakey, head of the Federal Aviation Administration, said air travel will be safer airlines will spend less money on monitoring flights.
USA Today reports the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, or ADS-B, will provide more detailed information to ground control on planes in the air than the current radar service provides.
It will transmit information to pilots in the air, something the current system doesn't do.
ADS-B has undergone testing routes in Alaska and Australia and by UPS at its Louisville, Ky., hub.
The FAA said in its Tuesday announcement it will fully replace the current radar system, starting with a limited transition by 2010 and in its entirety by 2014.
Airlines are worried it will cost them too much, but the FAA said after an initial investment of $600 million, the system will save the airlines $1.3 billion.
/* Of course this is after the FAA has shut down a portion of the Alaska Capstone program without explaination. */ :unsure:
