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    Senate passes FAA bill that speeds switch to GPS

    By JOAN LOWY | Associated Press – Mon, Feb 6, 2012

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a compromise bill that speeds up the Federal Aviation Administration's switch from old-fashioned radar to an air traffic control system based on GPS technology. It also requires opening U.S. skies to drone flights within four years.

    The bill was approved 75 to 20 on Monday despite labor opposition to a deal cut between the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House on rules governing union organizing elections at airlines and railroads. The House passed the bill last week. It now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

    The bill authorizes $63 billion for the FAA over four years, including about $11 billion toward the air traffic system and its modernization.

    The FAA is also required to give drones expanded access to U.S. airspace by September 2015.

     

    9 comments

    • Obie
      Obie  •  3 mths ago
      They already got rid of LORAN C. Now they want to chop air traffic
      control radar. I guess the OMNI and NDB stations will be gone soon too.
      We'll put all of our eggs in one basket. We will ignore the fact that our
      GPS satellites are flying over nations that we are now threatening with
      hostilities. (It seems likes that's most of the world these days.)
      If these satellites are destroyed by laser or kinetic weapons during some
      "crisis", then our entire commercial fleet would be grounded.
      But then granny won't need to worry about the TSA X-ray-ing her
      adult diapers anymore because her plane won't be going anywhere anyway.
      • Airpamela
        Airpamela 3 mths ago
        Gotta move with future ol' timer. Step up to a G1000.
      • willy l
        willy l 3 mths ago
        If they take are satellites out you will have bigger things to worry about than flying..
      • Blue Sky
        Blue Sky 3 mths ago
        Obie, welcome to the 1990s. GPS is it Or, you could stick with that E6B and stopwatch.. ya might get to fly around the pattern.
    • Arnold
      Arnold  •  3 mths ago
      The drone aspect of the bill should be the headline, not a side note.
      • ChaseW
        ChaseW 3 mths ago
        It's not as disturbing as you think. Right now, they have to drive the massive 60ish foot drones from the manufacturing plant to the military base because of concerns about colliding with a civilian aircraft. Never mind that there are civilian aircraft in the countries that we fly our drones in. Anyways, which do you prefer? Flying a drone from Michigan to California or sharing the road with a drone on a flatbed?
      • Robert Gary
        Robert Gary 3 mths ago
        ChaseW, these are not the drones they are speaking of. The large military drones already have dedicated airspace, etc. They are referring to multiple drones, small drones that have been purchased by police departments around the country . They do not have the sophisticated systems the large military drones have to avoid other aircraft, are not flown by trained pilots, and are not subject to formal mechanical inspections.
    • Curmudgeon
      Curmudgeon  •  Pleasanton, California  •  3 mths ago
      Well, look at it like this.... Russia and Chine ( soon) will have a perfectly working GPS system that could be used by ANY airline or entity worldwide... Soon the USA managed system will be OBSOLETE if they don't move with the times. Imagine the USA losing control of the navigation systems out there. It is just a few years away... THAT is why they moved so quickly...
    • onemansopinion
      onemansopinion  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      Wow......they actually agreed on something together?
      I am impressed!
      • randel
        randel 3 mths ago
        They always agree on taking away our freedoms too. Pretty convenient huh?
    • jkeyner
      jkeyner  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      Democratic Senators better start reading these bills they are voting on and by the way, what happened in the debate regarding the ability to destroy unions in the FAA Bill?
      • Blue Sky
        Blue Sky 3 mths ago
        Unions are killing the economy.. they *need* to be dismantled.
      • Blue Sky
        Blue Sky 3 mths ago
        Well, unions, Democrats, and that loser of a president we have....
      • jkeyner
        jkeyner 3 mths ago
        Plue Sky, please compare the economy when 25+% of the country was union and today where 6+% is union in the private sector and how many families had moms that stayed at home to raise children, prepare meals and other valuable activities on one income. Today it requires two in most families else standard of living is lower. Point is unions raised standards of living for all Americans. Since Reagan, standards have gone down. Greed my friend.
    • .
      .  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      Geeee obie ...you forgot one ..........you can always use your good ole direction finder.
      • Airpamela
        Airpamela 3 mths ago
        He mentioned NDB. Get moving or get out of the way.
    • .
      .  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      OR SPEED TIME DISTANCE FORMULA AND A COMPASS
    • jkeyner
      jkeyner  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      Caving to the Republican Party is so bad, they GOP have shot their wad and destroyed our economy and why Dems went along with this is beyond me!
    • .
      .  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      This is one of those disturbing sentances....give drones expanded access..................................reminds me of another one.that was on t v-------------the c i a will no longer be allowed to do political assasinations with in united states borders anymore.
     Post a comment
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