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• Technology to the rescue...
  Technology, managerial accountability and adequate funding can solve the problems with the Air Transportation System.
  Congestion and the resulting delays are a result of airline scheduling at peak demand times. Airport capacity (runway acceptance rates and ground facilities) limit the number of aircraft that can be handled without increasing delay time. Airport capacity can be increased if airlines would use or be "regulated" to use the twenty-four hour clock. Based on the twenty-four hour clock there would be very few delays.
  Global Positioning System Satellites can be a valuble tool for navigation but has limits as a remedy for aircraft separation. RNAV, also a good tool but comes with separation control problems and the "Human" factor. The Air Traffic Controller has all of the resposibility but very little direct control over aircraft volume.
  The key to the problem solving is the "management of the System"... There is a breakdown in the accuntability and control of "The System"... Who is in charge? Who is responsible for the "System"???
  The Executive branch and the congress have the ultimate authority to fund or underfund the system. The "users" (airlines,general aviation, military, private flyers) share in the mix.
  Industry attempts to respond to the "problem" by offering "off-the-shelf hardware and software that is designed to fix problems...at a profit.
  Who designs the "System"? Who is charge if the system fails?
  Systems that are designed by professional highly educated/trained personnel are seldom held accountable for system failure.
  Systems change over time inorder to make them work. (Air Traffic Controllers invent tools to expedite traffic movement that system designers did not think about).
  Large amounts of capital investment that is justified on a reduction in air traffic controllers will not work. FAA's problems seem to increase when management attempts to reduce scheduling.
  Bottom line: Invest in technology, provide trained/skilled management and adequately fund system upgrades. Don't blame the weather or Air Traffic Controllers as the primary reason for the problem. It is also essential to have built in a systems measurement criteria that management can measure and be measured.
  Consider regulating scheduling...

  October 4, 2007

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