Modernization of air traffic management is already under way. The new systems envisioned in Europe and the U.S. would begin automating a pilot's tasks even before submission of a flight plan. From a hotel room, hours before a flight, the pilot could plug an electronic flight planner into a tablet computer, automatically linking to the plane's flight management system and the FAA air traffic network center. He could choose one of several routes, from the fastest to the least expensive. He would receive weather information, including the wind's speed and direction. Within seconds, an optimal route would be calculated and a touchdown time determined, accurate to within two seconds.
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