The NextGen(eration)

As aviation continues to thrive the FAA is running into a problem.  The National Airspace System is threatened to become full in the near future if action isn’t taken to expand the load capacity of our current system.  Fortunately the FAA has a plan to vastly increase the capacity and efficiency of our airspace with NextGen.  NextGen will utilize a satellite based system that will allow for more traffic to fly in a more efficient and logical way.  This FAA website has a detailed explanation of all the subsystems that will make up NextGen.  The basic way it will work is aircraft and ATC will be able to monitor each other using a single system to increase the capacity and improve routing for aircraft, while giving pilots more real time data.

The only real debate about how NextGen will move forward is funding.  With estimated costs from as low as 20 billion dollars to numbers north of 100 billion.  Who should foot the bill for this massive overhaul?  I feel that the government should pay for the infrastructure as well as subsidizing GA aircraft to equip their aircraft properly in this new system.  Airlines and corporations flying larger jets will be able to afford and more likely pass the bill to customers or use it as some type of tax write off.  However, those that fly leisurely would suffer the most if they were required to purchase expensive equipment.

The benefits of NextGen would be extremely beneficial to aviation as seen in this article.  Having the ability to reduce separation and plan more direct routes would lower fuel consumption and decrease delays while still maintaining a safe flying environment.  There are many reasons to pursue NextGen aggressively and the only hurdle that looks to be in the way is money.  Still the future of NextGen does look bright.  It isn’t projected to be fully functional until 2025.  There is much work that needs to be done, but it is work that is vital to the survival of aviation.  If this new system is delayed for too long, it won’t be long until airports are experiencing greater congestion in a much busier sky.