subject: Automation in Air Traffic Control Systems [print this page] Automation in Air Traffic Control Systems
How important is automation when it comes to air traffic control systems? Automation is very important in a lot of fields and industry and air traffic control is one of these fields. If you are wondering on what is the impact of automation when it comes to air traffic control systems, here are few things which you may want to know.
The purpose on why air traffic control systems are implemented is that to avoid collisions of airplanes. Basically, air traffic controllers do direct airplanes on which route to take so that they may avoid collisions especially during times wherein there is zero visibility.
When we say automation, this means the technology wherein there is no need for intensive manual labor or human intervention. One important product of automation is the computer technology which is being used in Air Traffic Control Systems. Computers are needed so that air traffic controllers may be able to perform their jobs more efficiently and accurately. With the help of computers, there is virtually no need for pen and paper.
Before, air traffic controllers use paper cards to manage air traffic but ever since computer technology has been integrated to air traffic control systems, the need for the said paper cards has diminished. In due time, air traffic control systems will be more advanced and there will be no need for manual processes.
But the downside of these is when the system itself fails. Imagine the chaos that it may bring to the air traffic. That is why we need to check the system itself from time to time to ensure that it will not fail. It is also very important for us to have alternatives when the actual system fails so that we will still have something to control the air traffic with to avoid chaos.
