REALITY CHECK
I have been reading with avid interest as these threads sway from one topic to the next some with heated exchanges. I am also fascinated by the space age technology purported to be just around the corner; changing all of our jobs to one of management rather than control (promotion at last). One question vexes me however, in the utopia that will obviously be all our futures, will aircraft transponders be able to select 8s and 9s and will ATC systems be able to read them? As this octal system has prevailed since the 1960s forgive me for being slightly cynical if I do not immediately sign up to, the dream of a worldwide-integrated ATC system watched over by big brother just yet.