NASA will work with China to solve air traffic problems

CHINA’s airspace is known for its overwhelming air traffic, leading to flight delays that have resulted in many disgruntled passengers.

The aeronautics research will advance air traffic automation for American and Chinese aviation operations in China.

“China is expected to see a substantial increase in air travel in the near future,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. “Our ability to work closely together will help to improve predictability of ground delays so air carriers can better plan departures to increase efficiency.

That will have a positive impact on U.S. carriers operating in China and the global aviation community.”

According to NASA, the five-year collaborative project will acquire and analyze data from Chinese airports to identify potential efficiencies in air traffic management.

In June, a study released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China revealed that the average delay for Chinese flights is 21 minutes, with poor weather, air traffic control issues, and other “unexplained reasons” cited as causes for delays, with only 68 percent of Chinese domestic flights leaving on time last year.

Aviation industry observer Zeng Tao told The Nanfang that the solution would be to open more airspace to civil aviation. “Other efforts made by air traffic management bureaus, airlines and airports have proved to have limited effects,” he said.

China is the fastest growing aviation market in the world, and to meet demand, China will invest in 6,810 new aircrafts worth more than US$1 trillion.

This would make China the first trillion-dollar aviation market in Boeing’s global forecasts.

Source: travelwireasia.com