On 1 Aug 2006 13:13:02 -0700, "
wrote in
. com::


Larry Dighera wrote:


When Lockheed-Martin and Boeing finally automate US ATC at some future
date, the whole subject will be rendered moot, as the computer will
'see' a fast-mover on a low-level MTR, and instantly route conflicting
aircraft away without the military informing FSS of MTR activity or
anything. We can dream ...


Don't hold your breath.

Such ATC automation won't happen in my time, although I'd bet it could
be accomplished using the current level of technology.

You'll also need 100 percent low-level radar
coverage of the U.S., to be available 100 percent of the time,

Um.. Space-based radar might be coaxed into doing an adequate job. If
not radar coverage, satellite transponder intergeneration and/or GPS
driven data-link technology might do it. (During a solar flair, all
bets are off...) Wait a minute. Aren't Free Flight, SATS
http://sats.nasa.gov/, and ADS-B supposed to accomplish most of this
virtually without ATC intervention?

and a massive amount of computer processing power.

That's the easy part. Designing the system, writing the code, and
debugging will be a never ending tasks.