Air traffic controllers use radar to direct aircraft in order to ensure that they stay a safe distance from one another and avoid collisions in mid-air. The technology has been in use since after World War II.

While much has changed since then, the truly radical change in air traffic control is only on its way: by 2010, all planes that fly in commercial airspaces will be required to have GPS tracking devices installed in the cockpit.

The Obama administration has recently given the go-ahead for airlines and private jet operators to start purchasing the equipment needed to make GPS-based air traffic control possible. Early warning is essential as the upgrade could cost as much as $10,000 per plane. Different sources estimate that 4 to 6.5 billion dollars will be the cost incurred by commercial airlines, cargo planes, private jet operators, helicopters and other small aircraft.

The system, called NextGen Air Traffic Control, has many advantages that seem worth the radical change and steep investment. Global Positioning Systems will give air traffic controllers updates by the second, which will allow them to let planes fly closer to one another. The precision of the tracking system will help decongest airways and save fuel. It can also make flying safer by giving controllers a more accurate and timely view of the location of planes, as opposed to the old system. It will also allow pilots to have the same view as air traffic controllers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will have to deploy new ground equipment to replace the existing radar stations, but this equipment is said to be much less expensive and can be placed practically anywhere.

This is a big leap for aviation around the world, and it will force both private and commercial aircraft owners to pay a hefty price. Yet, it reminds us that despite the recession, America is still a world superpower, at least for now.

View a previously written post by Mouli Cohen about Technology