Is This Why Your Flight is Delayed?

Here's an interesting blog column from the Atlantic Magazine written by an airline traffic controller out east. In it, the author argues, fairly persuasively, that the big problem isn't an antiquated air traffic control system, but rather there simply isn't enough time in the day to get big planes in an out of busy airports. This is due to the fact that the fact of moving a plane at high speed either during takeoff or landing disturbs the air to such a degree that the planes must be spaced out by at least one minute. And it's longer for the jumbo jets. So the max number of planes that can be moved in an hour is capped at no more than 60 per runway.

Like I said, it's interesting and not something I've heard discussed before.

However, I must take issue with what appears to be his solution....increasing regulation of the industry in general, and having Congress assert control of the number of takeoff and landing spots at busy airports. I've discussed before how regulations still hamstring the airlines in the de-regulated world.

There are actually better solutions. In no particular order, they include:

1. Building more runways.
2. Have the busy airports charge differing takeoff or landing charges to the airlines based upon the time of day.
3. Move towards more direct flights that are smaller planes moving from smaller airports.

If, at its base, the problem is too few runways, then build more runways. That's a pretty simple solution. It's not without difficulties. Airports that are near other developments may have NIMBY problems. Others are simply unable to expand due to physical features of the landscape. But in most locations, I'm sure there is some way to get some additional runways built.

Airports should charge more for landing times in the peak period. Spread your flights out through the day. If everyone wants to come in between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, then double or triple the charge at that time. Or give discounted rates to come in between 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM. It's pretty much a twenty-four hour world out there now. If people will shop at Wal-Mart at 3:00 AM to save 2 cents on their light bulbs, the'll be willing to pay $50.00 less per ticket to fly at 10:00 PM.

The biggest problems appear to be at airports that handle big planes flying from hub to hub. The small planes funnel us small-towners into the hub, then we take another plane from hub to hub. If we flew more small planes directly from our small starting point to our ending point, then there wouldn't be so many jumbo jets that need extra time for takeoffs and landings at the hub. Sure, this will cost a little extra, but people will pay for convenience.