Is Free Flight A Reality o r Myth? IS FREE FLTGHTA REALITY OR MYTH?

During the past ten years, air navigation has made great strides. With an introduction of Global Positioning System (GPS), the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system has seen a massive leap forward in technology. There has been talk of eliminating the current en route and approach navigation system utilizing VORs, NDBs and ILSs. That approach may have been premature. The new projected target date for initiating Phase I of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is September 2000 (Eldredge, 1999). This is an extension of 14 months fiom the original target date. WAAS is the backbone of Free Flight. Without WAAS, Free Flight crmaQt achieve its goal of t tmhg the u~rrent ATC system into more of a management role versus a control role. The theory behind Free Flight is that airmfl can go d r e d y to their destination without relying on ground-based navigation aids and ATC to guide them along the route. Users are allowed more freedom in selecting routes. In addition, pilots will not have to rely solely on voice communications and will have increased latitude to make altitude and heading corrections based on improved situational awareness to avoid other tr&c (ner & Planzer, 1999). For short distances this would not be an advantage, but for long flights, savings in time and fuel could be si@cant. Presently, it is possible for pilots to fly direct to their destination with Inertial Navigation System (INS) and GPS navigation however, the current ATC system is not set up to handle such a role. It becomes &cult for ATC to & and control thetrdkwithout aircraft utilizing the establishe