Ed Bolton, assistant administrator for the Federal Aviation Administrationâs Next Generation Air Transportation program, has said the agency plans to focus its air traffic control modernization on large airports, National Journal reported Thursday.
Jason Plautz writes the FAA will begin the approach by teaming with airlines, airports and pilot associations in an effort to identify airports with heavy congestion and implement the overhaul plan in those areas.
The $40 billion NextGen program aims to migrate the air-traffic control from a radar-based system to a global positioning system in order to help reduce flight times and avoid accidents, according to the report.
Bolton explained that planes would then descend following a stairstep pattern to a smoother drop once the modernization is implemented, Plautz reports.