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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently announced that the current radar system used by U.S. air controllers will soon be replaced by GPS tracking technology. The FAA awarded a GPS tracking contract to an engineering firm in 2007, and the firm is presently working on the “NextGen” technology to make huge improvements to the present system.

The FAA believes that the new GPS tracking system will be infinitely more effective than radar, since the current radar system frequently leaves pilots in the dark. The new GPS system will allow pilots to locate other planes, and it will also allow controllers to have a better idea of where planes are when flying. Currently, controllers are unable to gain a clear picture of a plane that is flying above an ocean unless that plane is 200 miles from shore.

David Melcher, ITT Senior Vice President, told press that “there are numerous benefits to go to a GPS-based system including savings of fuel, less carbon-dioxide emissions and better-controlled ascents and descents.” In addition, “the pilots will actually have better situation awareness in the cabin, and they’ll have more air traffic information and climate information.” These are welcome changes to pilots who are used to flying longer routes simply to remain on controller radar. Imagine the fuel savings alone in switching over to GPS!

The FAA hopes that the new GPS tracking technology will be set up by 2012, though the whole system will not be functional until 2020. In the future, planes will be able to fly shorter distances, closer together, and more accurately than ever before. In addition, the new system will likely save airlines a great deal of money when it comes to fuel costs. It is estimated that more than 1.4 billion gallons of fuel will be reserved due to the new GPS tracking system. Further, this new system will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 14 million tons. The new system will be 10 times more accurate than it is today. Isn’t it time we replaced our 70 year old radar technology with proven GPS tracking?

(Written for Rocky Mountain Tracking by Harriette Halepis – Source acquired via L.A. Times, August 5, 2010)