ABSTRACT
This chapter examines a typical, imaginary flight on a Boeing 747 of a major airline from Los Angeles to Frankfurt in the year 2010 to illustrate what the future Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management system might be like for the pilots. The operators and airline personnel on the ramp had also received a copy of the pre-departure clearance in their trucks and were preparing for push-back. The pilot looks down at the display to read the latest wind information, automatically collected and transmitted via data link from the various anemometers located around the airfield. The pilot engages the autopilot when passing 2,000 ft. and climbing. Civil aircraft were equipped with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transmit and receive capabilities. A few more routine messages concerning frequencies to monitor are exchanged via data link and our aircraft is cruising at 32,000 ft.
