Data Communications for Air Traffic Control

Problems in our air transport system are prominent in the news: delayed and canceled flights, overworked controllers, and near mid-air collisions make regular headlines. The Federal Aviation Administration's solution to these problems is an overhaul of the nation's air traffic control system. The plan for the National Airspace System (NAS) includes more than 90 individual projects to improve air traffic control productivity and air transport safety. This talk describes NAS data communications projects and explores some of the technical issues facing the FAA.