Air Traffic Control by Programmed Navigation

Extract

This paper proposes that the navigation and control of all airliners should be automated from take-off to landing. Each aircraft will fly according to a prescribed flight plan, to be fulfilled in position, altitude and time within prescribed tolerances. The optimal flight plan is elaborated by a central air traffic control station and transmitted by data link to an airborne computer which monitors the navigation of the aircraft. The navigation itself is based on an integrated Inertial/DME/DME system. Separate airways are proposed for the general aviation. The paper was presented at the 19th Technical Conference of I.A.T.A., Dublin, October 1972.

The permanent growth of air traffic demands rigorous regulation. The most efficient form of regulation is the careful elaboration of a flight plan, taking into account the total air traffic in the area and the rigorous fulfilment of this flight plan. The flight plan will be elaborated at a central air traffic control station by computer, taking into account both air traffic and the meteorological conditions, especially wind. This flight plan is transferred by radio to the computer in the aircraft and comprises essentially the three-dimensional coordinates of take-off point, destination and way points as well as the corresponding times; also the precomputed values of ground speed, rate of climb and rate of descent.