The power of the wing

In the 100 years of aviation, beaten only in its speed of progress by information technology, there has always been the challenge offered by the natural wingers: birds.
Although, ironically, birds are also as natural an enemy of air safety, their use of air space is the focus of several very serious studies.
How do birds manage to reach these optimum levels and maintain so much order in the sky? Every small step that aviation can take to get closer to this secret means a greater safety record, more efficiency and a stronger bottom line.
Actually, birds at a lower level are a safety hazard but their planning is exquisite and use of space unbeatable. How do they do it and what can we learn from them to make flying so much safer.
So what is implied in the concept of flying free as a bird if one is talking in the context of a commercial aircraft? To understand the difference, it is necessary to understand how an aircraft’s flight path is determined.
Basically, the flight path is a ‘contract’ between the pilot of the aircraft and the air traffic controller (ATC) at the airport or ground station.
This contract requires the aircraft to fly along a predetermined specific route.
A pilot cannot deviate from this path without the consent of the ATC. For example, if (s)he encounters a thunderstorm, the pilot must inform the ATC who will then redesignate the flight path to avoid the storm.
Given the fact that a traditional ATC system relies on a rigid and inflexible ground-based infrastructure — comprising thousands of navigation beacons, radar installations and landing aids — following the instructions of the ATC may often take an aircraft out of its way, place it at altitudes that reduce its efficiency, or send it into head winds that slow it down.
As a result, an air carrier takes more time, and burns more fuel, than is necessary to reach its destination, raising airline costs and, thus, the cost of air transportation for travelers and shippers.
Breaking this total dependency on ground infrastructure is central to the Free Flight concept.
It gives an air carrier greater discretion in choosing the routes, altitudes and speeds it flies, particularly during the cruise phase of flight, permitting it to follow the most advantageous route between takeoff and landing, as well as seek out the most favorable wind conditions.
Enabling an aircraft to navigate independently of ground systems, and be tracked accurately without the need for radar, will allow the air carrier to operate more efficiently, saving customers time and money.
It will also increase airspace capacity and reduce congestion. This is crucial.
Given the fact that the air traffic system is growing at an annual rate of about 3-5 percent annually it is predicted that the current ATC system and airspace architecture will not be able to handle this increase over the next 15 years.
In fact, the ATC system is not designed to handle even current traffic levels.
Congestion, flight delays and safety concerns are the order of the day and the prospect of airspace gridlock could loom within a few short years.
The Free Flight concept, which is being developed jointly by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the global aviation community, offers a potential route out of the logjam.
It may not be cheap to implement — but congested airports and airways are likely to be even more expensive.
However, Free Flight does not imply that the pilot will function totally independently of the ATC. Clear-cut lines of authority and responsibility will still continue between the two.
The difference is that technology will be designed to allow the pilot and ATC to perform their jobs with improved accuracy, efficiency, and coordination.
The Free Flight concept would thus range from total flight-path flexibility to controlled separation due to traffic density and the complexity of traffic flow.
The attempt would be to investigate and implement projects involving current technology used in airspace control (radio communications, radar systems, surveillance equipment) and new technology to allow real-time data flow for both ATCs and pilots, and better situational awareness to avoid conflicts.
Free Flight would thus enhance the overall “picture” that ATCs see when dealing with aircraft, and the “picture” pilots see through enhanced avionics and systems devoted to enhanced separation in the air and on the ground as well as spacing in approach and departure scenarios.
Thus, generally speaking, any activity that removes restrictions that the ATC and the airspace environment imposes on commercial aircraft represents a move toward Free Flight.