Originally Posted by
rickair7777
The problem with radar is it is larger, heavy, has large moving parts, and uses a lot of power. This means it's expensive to buy, maintain, repair, upgrade, and replace.
For national security reasons, they probably won't get rid of it entirely but it might spend a lot of time turned off (saving wear, tear, and energy).
The advantages of new system includes direct routing for most flights, with associated time and fuel savings.
We can go direct now with RNAV/GPS but are not usually allowed to because that does not always provide ATC with adequate traffic de-confliction, which is done manually by controllers making decisions. The new system would automate de-confliction, with the onboard aircraft avionics making some decisions.
This will save a ton of money. Can the FAA implement it within a reasonable timeframe and budget? Will congress fund it adequately? I dunno.
I agree but what good is direct with reduced lateral separation if there aren’t enough runways and gates to accommodate the traffic? If you have 2 RWY’s and can only receive 2 a/c every 2 minutes, then after being given direct we’ll just end up in a holding pattern thus negating our time and fuel savings.
The bill does allow $8B for airport improvements but that won’t help SFO get a second RWY to support Parallel ILS’s to mins……………….it will help them build a new terminal, update Eq, etc. but what good is that if you’re still restricted on giving and receiving a/c?