Jump to content

Purpose of SIDs and STARS


Recommended Posts

With the ability to use laser gyro precision FMC's, why can't we just fly a direct path to and from the airport? These systems are the same in missiles and submarines. The only conclusion I have is better traffic management, but can;t flying in a direct to be no different? I have read the with NextGen, Direct To would be possible?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

...why can't we just fly a direct path to and from the airport?

 

Late at night you often can, when traffic is minimal, and especially if the weather is also good. If you were to listen to approach/departure in the wee hours at the busier fields you'd hear that. But missiles and submarines don't have to avoid other traffic.

 

So SIDs and STARs provide ATC tools for (as the names say) STANDARD ways of getting to and from certain major airports (think of what A.T.C stands for). It cuts the time that controllers have to be talking on the radio, since the pilot can follow these paths without individual turn-by-turn direction from the controllers. Think of how many aircraft are inbound and outbound at once in places such as Dallas, Atlanta, New York, etc. and how many radio freqs (and controllers) they'd need without the published routes, and what the collision risk would be without published procedures.

 

But with the routes they can assign whichever one(s) that are appropriate for the conditions/traffic levels then just monitor a lot of aircraft.

 

Of course, in the sim you can do as you please... :rolleyes::cool::pilot:

 

Larry N.

As Skylab would say:

Remember: Aviation is NOT an exact Science!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...