Musings: Cut air mishaps with night flights
The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., where a passenger jet collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River killing 67 people. Credit: AP/Jose Luis Magana
With all the talk about fixing our air traffic control system, little discussion has focused on the congested skies over America’s largest cities.
During the 1970s and early ’80s, we controllers tried to figure ways to help avoid errors due to saturated airways during peak times. We realized almost everyone wants to fly during the same time, and the airlines were accommodating them. We felt that perhaps the entire 24-hour clock should be used and force passengers to fly when they normally would be asleep. This would eliminate situations where planes come dangerously close to one another because of congested airspace.
Of course, America’s flying public would not be happy flying at, say, 2 a.m. to West Palm Beach, Florida. But they don’t seem to mind traveling to Europe late at night. Is now the time to reintroduce this idea?
— Robert Ketcham, Center Moriches
The writer worked as an air traffic controller for eight years with the Federal Aviation Administration and three years with the Air Force.
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