MyCaptain cuts the 'gordian's knot' of Aviation
Despite 'deregulation', commercial aviation has stagnated because the government is still in control
The More You think About It The More It Makes Sense
The following changes 'MyCaptain' suggests we make to the American National Airspace System, (NAS) are large tasks. The intention of 'MyCaptain' is to give you the rudimentary understanding of the paradigm shifts needed to evolve the NAS. The following discussion is the shortest version I can relate. I think you will find the more you think about what I suggest the more it will make sense. I am prepared to expand on any issue here including unaddressed ones at your request.
Our Aviation History Is One Of Enjoyment
Our life experience in aviation started with pilots who flew aircraft made of canvas to today’s carbon fiber. First, pilots flew at 60 mph in small aircraft and now they fly 600 mph in transport category jets. 100 years ago pilots delivered only the mail. Today's cockpit crew consists of the Captain and First Officer flying high-tech aircraft, delivering tons of mail, cargo and billions of passengers all over the world. Rocket-propelled aircraft are now flying into space and soon supersonic transport will be part of daily service. Commercial aviation has been the efficient and predictable way to move both people and product. A year-around service for everyone to enjoy, giving access to fun, food, people, places, products to buy and events to attend.
Pilots Mitigate Life Threatening Problems As They Arise
Up to now commercial aviation has been about safe, fast and affordable good service. Recent events show this is changing. Passengers are receiving less services while fares increase. Congress reports we are close to averaging one 'near-miss' a day. Both of these unfortunate events are increasing. The pilots and the passengers live through common experiences. The pilots, by nature, are always working to improve the passengers experience. Pilots are regularly mitigating operational problems ranging from maintenance issues, flight delays and emergencies as they arise.
The Government Is Unaffected By Any Decision They Make
The Captain and the First Officer are the human connection between the passengers, industry and the government. Where do you turn when day-to-day operational problems arise? To the safe efficient solution: My Captain. A 'Captain's Leadership' in the two-pilot cockpit makes our day-to-day flights safe and efficient which leads to stability. Despite all of this, the commercial aviation business lacks overall system stability. Without stability there is no growth. Without growth there is no capital investment. The commercial aviation business needs the kind of stability that leads to major capital investment. Since the government is unaffected by any decisions they make, their plans are often not optimum for passengers or businesses.
The FAA And EuroControl Collaboration Produced A Plan
Years ago our National Airspace System had the ability to respond to all challenges from unexpected calamities to happy celebrations. Today the NAS is under severe stress for one simple reason, the current growth rate in air traffic doubles about every ten years. More and more Air Traffic Control, (ATC) Scopes are crowded. The ability of ATC to safely keep aircraft separated is constantly approaching system limits. The Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA) and Congress responded to this problem in 2003. This collaboration produced the 2004 FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System, (NextGen) plan and is Harmonized with EuroControl's SESAR plan.
The Governments Planed Use Of 'AI' In NextGen & SESAR Is Outdated And Misguided
The FAA's NextGen plan to modernize the NAS is driven by an outdated FAA model based on 'Observation and Control'. This is how the FAA has operated for decades. Basically the FAA divides the airspace in the NAS using individual ATC. Then the FAA uses ATC, one controller, to direct many aircraft in that airspace. Actual 'direction' by controllers is kept to a minimum by routes which appear on the ATC scopes. These 'routes' are based on the 'communications out' flight plans pilots file between airports. Aircraft that remain on these routes require minimum controller contact and interaction. This 'model' is what the FAA has designed NextGen around. For twenty years the FAA has been trying to convert the NAS to operate via 'automata', meaning programable automation control systems. The FAA Automation Evolution Strategy, (AES) is how they are slowly converting to automata control. This approach takes the 'human' out of the NAS, both pilots and controllers. The FAA's Reduced Crew/Controller operations will depend on technology for safe and efficient operations. The government plans to use Artificial Intelligence to help them make their FAA NextGen & EuroControl SESAR plans work, an approach that is outdated and misguided.
The FAA's NextGen Plan Is Unsafe And Unsustainable, A Paradigm Shift Is Needed
Today's air traffic growth has the NAS constantly near its saturation limits in aircraft, airspace and airports. Things are getting missed. The aerospace industry, including aircraft manufacturers and airlines view the FAA's NextGen and EuroControl's SESAR plans as 'how things will get done'. The aerospace industry is moving away from major commercial system innovation. The aircraft manufacturers are producing the 'NextGen jets' and the airlines are consuming it. The industry stakeholders and their businesses react to government plans. The FAA budget pushing this reaction is $24B and growing. The FAA, NASA, DHS are some of the many government programs behind the FAA's NextGen plan . . . that's a lot of push. The FAA needs ideas not reactions to solve all the problems in the NAS. The best 'Ideas' always come from those who are directly involved and responsible for every outcome. The pilots, controllers, industry and the public is where those ideas will come from. The FAA's NextGen plan is unsafe and unsustainable. Paradigm shifts are needed.
The Primary FAA ATC Model Of Comm-Out Keep Away Has To Change
The FAA's NextGen plan for the NAS needs a paradigm shift as in the past. Over 100 years ago pilots would write out a 'flight plan' describing their intended route, the time of arrival and then give this to a responsible person (a no communication flight plan). The NAS started as a 'communications out' operation. Then radios were added and the NAS evolved to ATC using flight plans and position reports for safe separation of aircraft. The next big shift came with the addition of RADAR to the NAS. For about the last sixty years ATC has been using flight plans, radios, RADAR and data to control and keep aircraft away from each other. The 2004 FAA's NextGen plan added satellite digital communication systems but the NAS did not progress. Why does the FAA want to keep the aircraft separated? Is it just about 'Safety' right? Or is the model of one controller observing aircraft on routes with minimum communications between aircraft all while trying to keep them separated outdated? This 'control model' is stuck in past. A modern example of integrated air operations is the USAF Weapons School model, this operation is opposite to the FAA. The FAA has failed to progress despite using this 'new technology' and continues on an outdated operations model. The present FAA model is still based on 'communications out' and 'one controlling many', and has now become a modern day 'Gordian's Knot'. This model use to make sense, but not any more. Today every modern jet in the NAS has multiple forms of communication available yet only communicates operationally with the assigned controller. Ask this question to any airline pilot today: 'When was the last time you were comm-out?' The answer will be 'never'. Todays NAS is a very inefficient operation and needs to move beyond this primary FAA, ATC model of 'Comm-out and controlled keep away'.
The Recent Near Miss Of FedEx And SouthWest Never Would Have Occurred
American aviation leads the world in best practices for safety. Yet according to recent congressional hearings the NAS is averaging close to one 'near-miss' a day. A recent example of a near-miss involved an airborne FedEx jet cleared to land on the same runway as a SouthWest jet on take-off role. The collision was avoided at the last moment by the superior skills of the pilots on board both aircraft. Today's modern jets have multiple radios on board but only communicate with one controller. Last moment responses by today's aircrew and controllers are the only protections we have to avoid disaster. This makes no sense in today's communication revolution. If we had integrated the modern communication systems of today, then the near miss of FedEx and SouthWest never would have occurred.
The Pilots Are The Human Connection That Makes It All Work
A new direction is needed to take full advantage of all of today's modern technology. The pilots connect industry technology with the passenger experience. Only pilots can harness all the advances in new technology, including Artificial Intelligence. It is the pilots who can bring stability to commercial aviation, a new system stability that will lead to major capital investment. 'My Captain' and crew is where everyone turns to when things go south. It's time for the pilots to stop making the government system 'just work' and instead improve the commercial aviation business and experience. The professional pilot is the 'Type A personality' that will naturally lead the way. The pilots are 'the grease' when things get sticky and 'the glue' when things fall apart and is the one and only human connection that makes it all work.
The Pilots Need To Take The Mantle Of Their Profession From The FAA
Normally technology advances industry and the human experience. The present direction of the government's use of technology is stagnating growth in the NAS, a stagnation that includes the aviation industry and the resulting decline in service to passengers. The passengers and public pay the bill and warrant better service. The FAA needs to remember its dual mandate of 'Regulation and Promotion of commercial aviation'. For the FAA to promote commercial aviation requires several paradigm shifts. One of these is the pilots owning their profession. This is not a new idea since military pilots control their profession. To successfully achieve this 'shift' the pilots will have to take the mantle of their profession from the FAA. While this seams a daunting task 'MyCaptain' knows the 'simple process' to make it happen on both a national and international scale. This shift in the control of the pilot profession is a national issue requiring Presidential leadership to execute.
An Evolution In The NAS, Like A Caterpillar To A Butterfly
With pilots owning their profession, industry standards will raise. Pilots will make safety, training and several other things standardized and 'the cost of doing business'. This transition will improve commercial aviation competition, safety and service for the passengers. The joyful experience of commercial aviation will return. The professional pilots will progress from just fixing government problems to growing system capacity. A single pilot profession combined with full use of technology will drive the needed sea-change to eliminate the 'crowded sky'. The professional pilots will synchronize aviation and modern satellite digital communication systems causing an evolution in the NAS, like a 'caterpillar to a butterfly'.
A NAS Driven By Dynamic Observation And Presence
The NAS is not taking full advantage of modern satellite digital communication system including the way FAA manages pilot production and controller training. The last letter in the 'FAA' stands for 'Administration' not 'Operation'. This technical transition of the NAS is beyond the FAA's capability. The dynamic integration of observation, interaction and technology requires pilots and controllers to synchronize. This integration is common practice in the American military. To understand this think about how personal digital communication devices work today, like a smart phone. Think of how these smart devices are connected and interact wherever you go. Now apply this process on a grand scale and develop the NAS to a system of 'Dynamic Observation and Presence'.
The Smart System Integrates Pilots, Controllers, Aircraft And Airports
Dynamic Observation and Presence means everyone, every aircraft, airport and runway are communicating and operating together. What I am describing is a 'Smart System' using modern communication links on a larger scale than what the American Military uses today. This 'scaling' requires a redirection of the present FAA ATC systems of 'observation and control'. The operational integration of pilots, controllers, aircraft and airports is part of the transition to a Smart System.
Human Control Augmented By Artificial Intelligence
The present NextGen plan includes the elimination of pilots and controllers with Artificial Intelligence, AI. This is because the FAA only thinks in terms of observation and control. The FAA is trying to solve a 'crowed ATC scope' problem. The present NextGen plan can not handle deviations on crowded ATC scopes. The FAA intends to control all aircraft the way NASA intends to control satellites, using 'Swarm Intelligence'. This approach will leave the NAS at the mercy of AI. The better way is an operation which integrates technology with the tens of thousands of pilots and controllers in the NAS. Enabling them to respond in concert using interactive technology at any given second. This redirects the FAA NextGen planned reliance on Artificial Intelligence to one of AI augmentation. To integrate pilots and controllers will require a paradigm shift in all present procedures, training and technology. The integration of pilots and controllers requires new technology in 'Smart Cockpits and Control Panels' in a Smart System. Smart Cockpits and Smart Control Panels will progress to human mission command and control systems not unlike the way the American military operates today. This approach will integrate 'the best of AI' but still contain it. AI will augment highly trained cockpit teams of a 'Mission Commanders and Pilots ' integrated with ATC, aircraft, airports and runways. Human control augmented by AI.
The Smart System Will Yield Unlimited Expansion Of The NAS
The Smart System is designed to integrate present operations concurrently with 'Smart Operations'. This Smart System integrates highly trained pilots, controllers with 'Smart Aircraft' and 'Smart Airports'. A system designed to directly interact and respond to everyone and everything in the system. The Smart Airport System is unlike anything you see today or currently referenced online. The Smart Airport involves five operations: Transportation, Commerce, Communication, Energy and Water. The combination of these five operations will allow any community, anywhere, to thrive. The Smart System is driven by the passenger and yields unlimited expansion of the NAS.
A Smart Airport Is The Building Block Of A Smart System
A Smart Airport combines both air operations and commercial business operations into one. The air operation side connects pilots and controllers with their related 'Smart Aircraft, Airports and Runways'. The 'Smart Runway design' doubles capacity, integrates and simplifies ground operations, improves safety, requires less ground and air space. Smart Airports will multiply and become the building blocks of the Smart System.
Smart Airports Will Become The New Super Malls
The commercial business aspect of Smart Airports will directly connect the passengers from the point of contact (their Smart Device) to every interested business in and around their 'Smart Airport Pair'. This will revolutionize the Smart Airport passenger experience by combining internet retail sales with classic 'brick and mortar'. The Smart Airport will use 'Smart Roads' to augment the experience. This system will generate commerce for large and small businesses both inside and outside of Smart Airport Pair. Smart Airports will become the new 'Super Malls', drawing in millions of passengers and the public.
The Interactive Airport Security Begins With The Passenger During Online Ticket Purchase
'Airport Security' in a Smart System is central in its design. Smart Airports simplify and improve security in and around the airport. The 'Smart Security' process begins during ticket purchase and starts with a process answering two questions. 1) Do I know who you are? & 2) Are you a trusted agent? If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then I'm done with the 'security check'... this process happens every day with Law Enforcement Officers. The 'Smart Airport Security System' includes this process and makes this common place. Real time security checks in a Smart System integrates all the procedures needed. First; A real time background check. Second; 'Looking for people with things'. The Smart System accomplishes all security issues real-time protecting passengers and property. The interactive airport security process begins online during ticket purchase, with the 'freedom of choice' every American requires.
Smart Airports Will Generate Power And Water
The Smart System energy solution is a 'LFTR nuclear power plant' inside of every Smart Airport. LFTR's are an old American idea who's time has come. One of the best designers of 'LFTRs' is 'Flibe Energy'. A quick perusal of 'Flibe.com' reveals a power plant design with none of the safety issues of all present day water jacket systems. LFTR's don't use water, so no super high pressure systems issues. Eliminating water means you can place them anywhere. LFTR's can not produce 'fissile' material. The LFTR uses liquid fuel, so no left over solid fuel rods to store. Liquid fuel means the LFTR consumes 99% of all the nuclear fuel provided, not the 1% of systems today. This kind of efficiency equates to a $2000 gain for every dollar spent. Compare this to the next best system, a Hydro electric plant, that ratio is $150 gain for every dollar spent. LFTR's in Smart Airports benefits the environment by producing clean energy for the airport and surrounding communities. Smart Airports will produce electricity and fuel used to scrub the atmosphere of carbon and turn seawater into fresh. This means Smart Airports will literally turn the planet green. Transforming poor economies by generating power and water anywhere.
The World Will Transition To A 'Type 1 Civilization'
Think in-terms of the ability to deliver these five things; transportation, commerce, communication, energy and water in one entity, a Smart Airport. Next, think what would happen if you placed a Smart Airport in the middle of any Desert... and feel the joy as you watch a desert turn green with life. America will change the face of the world. When you tap into and synchronize the planets people and resources, you're producing a Type 1 civilization.