On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 23:19:36 -0400, "John T" wrote in
::


I have no idea when - or even if - this technology will actually make it to
the field, but it is an area of active research. There is an SVS-style
system on the market today, but it is akin to viewing, say, the old
BattleZone arcade game next to FlightSim 2004. The technology is simply not
in the same era.

Thank you for the report.

From the SATS information I have seen on the web, NASA intends for
non-certificated aviation passengers to rent aircraft after arrival
equipped with a system similar to that which you describe, and use it
for transport from the airline hub to a municipal airport destination.
While that scenario seems wildly optimistic to one who appreciates all
that is involved in aerial navigation, it appears that progress is
proceeding.

More information he

http://www.defensedaily.com/cgi/av/s...e=0301sats.htm
SATS proposes to fully leverage new cockpit and aircraft
technology to develop aircraft and to fully exploit digital
information and communication technologies to develop the airspace
infrastructure. The ultimate result would be that aircraft and the
airspace could be used with the same ease as automobiles and
highways are used today.

The skill sets mandatory for today’s GA pilots would no longer be
required. Burley, who is also a pilot, says the person flying a
SATS aircraft will more appropriately be called an "aircraft
operator," because only minimal training will be required. A
real-world example is a modern subway system, which is run
primarily by computer, with oversight by an operator who no longer
requires the skills of a locomotive engineer.

http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/AGATE.html
http://lava.larc.nasa.gov/BROWSE/agate.html
http://homepages.ius.edu/GSLOSS/socprobhome/id293.htm