Operation of Current Navigation Aids and Future Prospects

This paper is designed as a survey document to be used as an overview and introduction to the various concepts and levels of complexity of current and future aids to air navigation. Major emphasis will be placed on identifying those technical and operational characteristics of each system concept and/or mechanization that have a significant impact upon both cockpit and ground-based communications and data processing. A representative bibliography is included to provide the reader the ability to pursue the subject further from an operational as well as a technical viewpoint. The object of this paper is to identify the relationship of air navigation aids to the flow and utilization of information in air navigation and air traffic control (ATC). Air navigation aids vary widely in both complexity and performance capability and these factors have a significant impact upon communications, data processing, and display, both in the air and on the ground.