Ed Dartford
Well-Known Member
http://www.wsj.com/articles/space-b...s-closer-with-launch-of-satellites-1484303455
My son Matt has, as part of a flight crew team, flown his Sun Country airline B737 over to Europe and the Middle East several times, but he has avoided piloting the leg over the pond. I asked him why, and this is what he told me.
Because there is no radar tracking over the ocean planes are sent along several (5 or so) defined paths, with separation based on timing. The paths are defined by GPS waypoints, But the tracks and waypoints are changed every day based on winds and weather, and (this is the bad part) they are not defined by names (easily input to the flight control system) but have to be put in as LAT/LONG. Of course tracks adjacent to the one assigned have to be input also just in case. It's a first class PITA.
This space-based system will be a big improvement.
My son Matt has, as part of a flight crew team, flown his Sun Country airline B737 over to Europe and the Middle East several times, but he has avoided piloting the leg over the pond. I asked him why, and this is what he told me.
Because there is no radar tracking over the ocean planes are sent along several (5 or so) defined paths, with separation based on timing. The paths are defined by GPS waypoints, But the tracks and waypoints are changed every day based on winds and weather, and (this is the bad part) they are not defined by names (easily input to the flight control system) but have to be put in as LAT/LONG. Of course tracks adjacent to the one assigned have to be input also just in case. It's a first class PITA.
This space-based system will be a big improvement.
