Originally Posted by
LookingForAJob
One difference in the examples that you cite is that only one vehicle is involved. ATC is pretty easy when the controller only has one aircraft to deal with - introduce other aircraft and the interactions between each very quickly becomes very complex.
Glide landing a spacecraft involves a high number of unknown variables. Sure it involves one craft, with a specific target of Landing on a specified spot.
In ATC there are also an finite number of unknown variables with a specific target of avoiding collision and providing an "efficient" flow.
I fail to see how automated airspace Is more complex?
The computer can know beforehand approximately how much traffic is expected, what routing it will follow and so on, and on a global scale could probably coordinate more direct routings over larger distances than today?
I don't intend this thread to be a fight between controllers and pilots as to which profession will "die" first.