New ATC system could boost flight efficiency

New air traffic control technology could help to make cross-ocean flights more efficient, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said.

The Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) system have now been put into place at Anchorage in Alaska, meaning that more flights across the Arctic should be possible.

"As we move toward the Next Generation Air Transportation System, we will continue to introduce procedures and technologies that help system users better serve their customers while maintaining the highest levels of safety," Marion C Blakely, Administrator of the FAA, said.

The technology enables air traffic controllers to monitor the position of aircraft that have left radar coverage or are unreachable by radio.

As aircraft travel over the ocean, for example, they will now be able to communicate with ATC on the ground and it is hoped that the improved procedural efficiency experienced by controllers will allow aircraft separation distances to be reduced.

ATOP has already been implemented at Ronkonkoma, New York, and Oakland, California, to cover the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

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