October 14, 2008

If only planes used GPS

Most of the air traffic network is still using the same principles laid down during the Second World War; this means that many flights are often criss crossing around the world using up valuable fuel, which is costing millions if not billions of pounds.

However, there is a technology already available that millions of people use every day that could make the flight plans of aircraft much more economical and probably even much safer than it is now. GPS is used in cars and in some mobile phones; it is this technology, which could revolutionise the airline industry.

For a cost of a millions, the industry would be saving billions in fuel and of course the cutting of carbon emissions too.

There are vague plans to introduce this system, but not until around 2020, imagine the amount of fuel that could have been saved in that time, if they switched over now.

Source [USA Today]