ABSTRACT
The aviation environment has remained fairly stable in operations over the last fifty years, with only minor changes in the way it operated. The pressure that is being put on the environment from saturation of airports and airspace, rapid growth and new technology both force and enable dramatic changes. Saturation of airports is the first significant challenge that is changing the way the system operates. The airline, air traffic control system, or a combination of the two, first develops a very accurate plan that takes into account all other aircraft in the system to ensure the planned trajectory is capable of being flown without the need for change. Aircraft are increasingly being more and more connected to the ground, not just by datalink and satellite voice communications, but also by high-capacity internet links. This connectivity enables the aircraft to have a much better situational awareness in terms of the current weather situation and the forecast.
