High-altitude redesign heralds Free Flight era

When the high-altitude redesign (HAR) portion of the FAA’s national airspace redesign program begins initial implementation this year, it will signal the b

By Harry Weisberger • Contributor

January 30, 2008

When the high-altitude redesign (HAR) portion of the FAA’s national airspace redesign program begins initial implementation this year, it will signal the beginning of the end for dependence on station-to-station navigation between ground-based Vortacs and represent a first step toward Free Flight, the Holy Grail of 21st century airspace management.

That is what a 30-year ATC veteran and current en route controller at Chicago Center told attendees at an Arizona Business Aviation Association (ABAA) meeting on March 11 in Scottsdale. The FAA calls it “an innovative approach to en route airspace, with a foundation in RNP (required navigation performance) and Rnav” technology. Larry Bicknell, now retired from the FAA and a consultant with BAe Systems in Washington, D.C., and Don Wishowski of the Chicago Center and representing the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), outlined the goals and timetable for HAR and offered projections of cost savings to the business aviation community.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.