Next-gen nav/comm

Advanced satellite capabilities revolutionize navigation, communications, and surveillance.

Applications of global-positioning data to air-traffic management is erasing the traditional lines between navigation, communication, and surveillance, paving the way for the U.S.' Next Generation Air Transport System (NextGen) and the Single European Sky (SESAR).

“The cornerstone of both NextGen and SESAR is changing operations from tactical juggling of air-traffic control and moving it to an environment in four dimensions: latitude, longitude, altitude, [and] time,” said Keith Wichman, Chief Engineer for Flight Management Systems at GE Aviation.