Displays for future air navigation systems

This paper discusses the current displays and traffic control of commercially operated aircraft and discusses the currently planned changes with new systems to handle the predicted increases in traffic. Although no discussion of maritime traffic control systems is included, it is hoped that the approaches and problems described may have some relevance. Aircraft display systems will change significantly due to required changes in air traffic control systems. The progressive increase in airspace congestion will lead to a position where the current, manually controlled, air traffic control system will no longer be able to cope. Some capacity increase may be achieved by partial automation of the air traffic control system enabling a reduction in air traffic controller to pilot conversation. New navigation technology utilising Global Positioning System can provide more accurate navigation which would allow relaxation of the current tightly defined aircraft routes delimited by Navaid positions to a free flight environment where aircraft routes are not defined. Changes are constrained by the mandatory requirement to maintain and preferably improve the overall safety of the system