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Air Traffic Control to Get a Makeover

Crowded flight paths is forcing upgrade of old, slow tracking system

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 25, 2007 11:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – The FAA has unveiled a plan to relieve projected air traffic gridlock: a new tracking system called NextGen. The new system will take advantage of slicker GPS technology, which will gradually replace the current radar system, which is subject to delays in data and large margins of error that require extra space between aircraft, Wired reports.

The new system would also allow air traffic controllers to handle more planes more efficiently, as pilots would get much of their weather and traffic information from monitors, rather than verbally. But not everyone touts NextGen as the answer. One air traffic controller argues that "the issue is airport and runway capacity," not backups on the flight paths.

A plane prepares to land at the Memphis International Airport in Memphis, Tenn., in a Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 file photo. A new air traffic control system may cut down on congestion and wait times. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell, File)
A plane prepares to land at the Memphis International Airport in Memphis, Tenn., in a Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 file photo. A new air traffic control system may cut down on congestion and wait times. (AP...   (Associated Press)
A Southwest Airlines jet lands at Midway Airport in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct., 16, 2007. More planes may be able to take to the skies once a new air traffic control system is in place. (AP Photo/ (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
A Southwest Airlines jet lands at Midway Airport in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct., 16, 2007. More planes may be able to take to the skies once a new air traffic control system is in place. (AP Photo/ (AP Photo/M....   (Associated Press)
Matt McCluskey directs air and runway traffic from the control tower at Logan International Airport in Boston in this Aug. 12, 2002 file photo. A new system may soon help controllers handle increasing air traffic. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Matt McCluskey directs air and runway traffic from the control tower at Logan International Airport in Boston in this Aug. 12, 2002 file photo. A new system may soon help controllers handle increasing...   (Associated Press)
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