Ronald Reagan International Airport

GPS system aims to make flying easier

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration is creating an air-traffic system that officials say will be as revolutionary for civil aviation as was the advent of radar six decades ago. But the program is at a crossroads.

It's getting harder to pry money out of Congress. The airline industry is hesitating over the cost of equipping its planes with new technology necessary to use the system. And some experts say the U.S. could lose its lead in the manufacture of high-tech aviation equipment to European competitors because the FAA is moving too slowly.

Seventy-five years ago this week, the federal government began tracking planes at the nation's first air-traffic control centers in Newark, N.J.; Chicago, and Cleveland.

The original 15 controllers, relying on radioed reports from pilots, plotted flights' progress using blackboards, maps and weights. Air-traffic control took a technological leap in the 1950s with the introduction of radar. That's still the basis of technology more than 15,000 controllers use to guide 50,000 flights a day.

Under the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System program, known as NextGen, ground radar stations will be replaced by satellite-based technology. Instead of flying indirect routes to stay within the range of ground stations, as planes do today, pilots will use GPS technology to fly directly to their destinations.

Planes will continually broadcast their exact positions, not only to air-traffic controllers, but to other aircraft within hundreds of miles. For the first time, cockpit displays will show pilots where they are in relation to other planes and what the flight plans are for those other aircraft. That will enable planes to fly closer together.

When planes approach airports, precise GPS navigation will allow them to use more-efficient landing and takeoff procedures. Instead of time-consuming, fuel-burning stair-step descents, planes will be able to glide in with their engines idling. Aircraft will be able to land and take off closer together and more frequently, even in poor weather, because pilots will know the precise location of other aircraft and obstacles on the ground. Fewer planes will be diverted.

Pilots and dispatchers will be able to get real-time weather information. Computers will spot potential problems well in advance so that planes can be rerouted. Many instructions now transmitted by radio will be sent digitally to cockpits, reducing the chance of errors.

Samsung Charges Up National Airport Just In Time For The Holiday ...

If you travel a lot by plane in the United States than you’ve probably charged your phone at one of Samsung’s over 400 charging stations in the 12 largest airports in the country.

Well Samsung announced last week just before the holiday weekend began that it has redesigned their charging stations. The new charging stations include 6 120v (AC) outlets and two usb outlets per side.  This allows up to 8 phones and devices to charge at the same time while you’re waiting for your next flight.

The new charging stations also include a monitor that shows news content, entertainment and flight schedule information.  Samsung has installed 20 of the new charging stations at Reagan National Airport in DC.

more after the break

“Samsung Mobile is excited to bring 20 new mobile charging stations to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile . “Travelers rely on their mobile devices everyday to stay connected to work and their family. The redesigned charging stations offer travelers a variety of new features to ensure they stay connected on-the-road.”

Samsung has revamped their marketing efforts to business travelers. Last month it was announced that Samsung announced they were providing 6000 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1′s to American Airlines for trans-atlantic and trans-continental flights in premium classes.  There Tabs will be used in premium seating sections.

Samsung Mobile has their charging stations installed in 12 of the nation’s busiest airports, 20 of the nations largest college campuses, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Mall of America.

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