Frequent flight delays and forced circling in holding patterns cost the aviation industry enormous sums. To solve this problem, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), founded in 1944, proposes implementing a mechanism similar to the synchronization of city traffic lights.
Flow management instead of waiting in the air
The essence of the new initiative lies in "air traffic flow management." If an airport realizes it cannot accept additional flights in the near future, it can coordinate actions with other hubs in advance. This will allow for temporary delays of departures on the ground, instead of forcing aircraft to spend hours in holding patterns before landing.
This approach involves real-time data exchange between airlines, airports, air traffic control services, and meteorological centers for collaborative decision-making.
Economic damage from delays
Air traffic management issues have serious financial consequences for air carriers. According to data from the European organization EUROCONTROL, the scale of losses in the European region alone is reaching significant figures.
"What if states coordinated air traffic the same way cities synchronize traffic lights?"
