Safer flight on the horizon

Developments in avionics, communications, and air-traffic management enable more affordable and better ways to fly and navigate.

The tragic crash of the Polish-government-operated Tupolev Tu-154 on April 10, which came down after hitting trees on its approach to the airport runway at Smolensk, Russia, killed not only that nation's President and First Lady but also scores of Poland's military and civilian elite, including military and business leaders, ministers, and representatives of organizations ranging from war veterans to officials from the church and charities.

National implications of this high-profile flying disaster can be imagined, but sadly, aircraft crashes on approach in poor weather, often involving small regional or general aviation aircraft, or business jets, are not yet a thing of the past.