The Gore Commission noted that a five-fold reduction in the fatal accident rate could be achieved in the next decade given the right resources and focus. Modernization of the air traffic control system can play an important role in achieving this reduction. The FAA modernization plan is aimed at reducing equipment malfunctions and ensuring separation. The intent of my comments is that a chain of events usually causes accidents, any one of which if broken would have prevented the accident. The modernization plan will eliminate many of the potential links in the chain.
Human error is still the leading cause of accidents today.
For each new procedure or piece of new hardware or software supplied to Free Flight between now and the year 2010, there will also be a new interface with humans to be considered. Therefore, the largest operational factor in Free Flight may not be the change in hardware, software or procedure, but in the way humans are affected by this change. To understand this point, consider that present technological applications contain everything from automatic landing systems to automatic checklists. These applications range from replacing human action in a system to simply reducing workload. In Free Flight, however, the task of proper application of automation is more elaborate because whole components of today's ground systems will be replaced with new highly automated systems thereby adding new human factors issues to address.