The Costs and Benefits of Air Navigation and Control Systems

Abstract

There is no doubt that the increasing size and speed of aircraft, and in particular the continuing growth in air traffic movements, pose unique problems for the development and use of efficient and safe methods of air navigation and control. The scientific, technological and operational difficulties involved are, of course, quite fundamental. This paper, however, is based on the propositions that such technological opportunities and regulatory systems as may be developed necessarily affect directly or indirectly the use of real resources; and insofar as these resources have a value in alternative uses, they incur costs on the community (as well as prospectively providing benefits). Situations involving economic choice, therefore, necessarily are involved. Air navigation and control systems are not immune from the general objective of achieving an efficient overall distribution of national resources.