patrick.net

I’ve been wondering why more than a few careers haven’t ended. Like mortgage/loan officers. Couldn’t we do without Realtors? Accounting and tons of financial positions?

I’d think anything that’s data heavy.

Why can’t we use AI to take the place of our air traffic controllers?

That’s a good suggestion! The problem is that this traffic control technology must be in the hands of forces of justice—any flaw or loophole would give evil forces the opportunity to create disasters. …The reality is that economic interests have deeply infiltrated and seriously threaten justice and conscience.

為什麼我們不能用人工智慧來取代我們的空中交通管制員？

这是个好建议！问题是必需正义力量掌控这一交通管制技术，任何漏洞瑕疵都会给邪恶势力留下制造灾难的机会。…现实是经济利益渗透严重威胁正义与良知。

The entire ATC system could have been updated years ago. Here is a long-ish GROK analysis of how CONGRESS diverted funds for decades:

couldn't we have had nationwide Microwave landing systems and more efficient flight routes with non-step climbs and descents long ago?Yes — we absolutely could have had nationwide Microwave Landing Systems (MLS), continuous climbs and descents (CCO/CDO), and far more efficient flight routes decades ago. The technology, data, and engineering know-how existed as early as the 1970s–1980s. The barriers were not technical, but institutional, financial, and political — and AATF diversions played a direct role in delaying these upgrades.
Here’s how and why we’re only now getting what should have been standard 30–40 years ago.

1. Microwave Landing System (MLS): Ready in the 1970s, Killed in the 1990s

MLS CapabilityILS (Legacy System)Why MLS Was Better3D curved approachesStraight-in onlyEnables noise abatement, shorter routes±40° azimuth, ±20° elevation±3° azimuth onlyAllows approaches from any directionPrecision to 20 ft vertical~200 ft minimums in some casesSafer in poor weatherNo critical/sensitive zonesLarge protected areasMore gates, faster ops
Timeline of Failure:

1970s: FAA and DoD develop MLS (MIL-STD-MLS) — proven in military testing.
1978: ICAO selects MLS as global replacement for ILS.
1980s: U.S. airports begin planning MLS installations (e.g., JFK, LAX).
1994: FAA cancels MLS in favor of GPS-based RNAV/RNP.
Result: Only ~100 MLS units ever installed worldwide; zero in regular U.S. commercial use.

Why?
Money was diverted from AATF during the 1980s–90s to balance federal budgets.

MLS required new ground stations (~$1–2M per airport) and avionics upgrades (~$50K per aircraft).
AATF had surpluses (peaking at $6B in 2000), but Congress used them to offset deficits instead of funding MLS rollout.
FAA chose cheaper GPS (free signals via DoD) over investing in MLS infrastructure.

Bottom line: MLS was killed not because GPS was better, but because AATF money was siphoned off, and GPS was “free.”

2. Continuous Climb/Descent Operations (CCO/CDO): Possible Since the 1980s
What is CCO/CDO?
Aircraft climb or descend at optimal rates without "step" level-offs — saving 200–400 lbs of fuel per flight, reducing noise, and cutting CO₂.
Tech Ready in 1980s:

FMS (Flight Management Systems) in 767/757 (1982) could fly optimized vertical profiles.
ATC radar and data links existed.
Europe tested CCO/CDO in 1980s (e.g., London Heathrow).

U.S. Delay Causes:

BarrierImpactOutdated ATC procedures (step climbs every 2,000–4,000 ft)Forced inefficient profilesNo AATF funding for NextGenDelayed ADS-B, Data Comm, ERAMAirspace redesign stalledMetroplex initiatives only started in 2010sController training gapsResistance to dynamic routing
Proof It Was Possible:

Atlanta Hartsfield (1990s): Limited CDO trials saved 300 lbs fuel/flight.
Europe (2000s): AIRE program showed 10–15% fuel savings with CCO/CDO.
U.S. only scaled in 2020s via Performance-Based Navigation (PBN).

We waited 30+ years for what Europe implemented in the 2000s — because NextGen was underfunded by ~$1B/year due to AATF diversions.

3. Efficient Routes: RNAV/RNP Existed in 1990s

Old Way (1970s–2000s)Modern PBN (2010s–Now)Fly from VOR to VOR (ground navaids)Direct GPS routesDoglegs, 100+ miles extraShortest pathFixed airwaysUser-preferred routes
Tech Ready:

1991: FAA approves first RNAV routes.
1996: Boeing 777 flies RNP approaches.
2003: Alaska Airlines uses RNP at Juneau — saves 1,000 ft descent, avoids terrain.

Why Nationwide Delay?

AATF shortfalls → delayed WAAS (1999–2003) and ADS-B (mandate: 2020!).
Ground infrastructure lag: ERAM (ATC computer upgrade) delayed from 2008 → 2015.
Airspace redesign: Only 14 Metroplex sites optimized since 2013 — should’ve been 50+ by now.

The Real Cost of AATF Diversions

If AATF Was Fully Invested (1980–2010)What We Got InsteadMLS at 100+ major airportsILS + GPS patchworkNationwide RNAV/RNP gridFragmented routesCCO/CDO standard by 2000Still "optional" in 2025NextGen Phase 1 done by 2005Still incomplete in 2025
Quantified Waste (FAA & MITRE estimates):

Fuel burn: $5–10B/year extra due to inefficient routes/profiles.
Delays: $20–30B/year in passenger time and airline costs.
CO₂: ~50M extra tons/year (equivalent to 10M cars).

What’s Happening Now (Finally)

ProgramStatus (2025)When It Should’ve HappenedADS-BFully mandated (2020)2005Data Comm60+ towers2008PBN Routes80% of enroute2005CCO/CDO40+ airports2000ERAMNationwide2010

We’re now doing in the 2020s what was feasible in the 1990s — because AATF money was diverted for 30 years.

Bottom Line
Yes — we could have had:

Curved MLS approaches in the 1980s
Continuous climbs/descents in the 1990s
Direct GPS routes nationwide by 2000

But Congress diverted ~$50 billion from the AATF to plug budget holes instead of modernizing aviation.
The result?
Passengers paid higher effective taxes (via fares and delays) for worse service — while the infrastructure lagged Europe by 20–30 years.
The tech was never the problem. The funding was.1.2s

I think you guys a)enjoy, b)trust AI too much. I'm not interested in any public or commercial exchange with AI. I'm just not into it.
It's more time consuming than just having to deal with your average idiot. Example try ordering a simple fucking taco at Taco Bell on that stupid AI kiosk. You have to describe what a taco even is, then go through a long list of shit that isn't supposed to be on a taco. Just to make sure you're getting what a typical Taco Bell taco should look like. At the counter I just ask for a taco and get what I expect. They don't ask me a myriad of questions like the ordering process puts you through. Wendy's drive through has gone AI. The two times I used it, it got my order wrong. I have never gotten a wrong order at this particular Wendy's. At circle K you got to put all of your items on that Star Track teleporter box. Then feed your money in a coin and bill insert. While a fucking cashier as sitting right there watching but refusing to do the transaction. Through bill rejection and all.

I just want AI to tell me what the fuck this is, when I take a picture of something I don't know what it is, or need help identifying.
That's IT!

I thought it is funny that AI is 'polluted' by the humans it interacts with. Human interactions are also 'data' that they collect. They even become racist.

Did they never factor this into the schemes? Guess it's why Skynet regarded humanity as an AI disease and moved to wipe them out.

Thanks RocketJoe! So in a nutshell, it could have been done but Congress fucked us. Imagine that!

A lot of people have a vested interest in inefficiency. Like all the air traffic controllers in this case.

Tenpoundbass says

At circle K you got to put all of your items on that Star Track teleporter box. Then feed your money in a coin and bill insert. While a fucking cashier as sitting right there watching but refusing to do the transaction. Through bill rejection and all.

I agree.

Life was better BEFORE digital. Bring back triplicate forms, I'm not being sarcastic. Less things got fucked up when it was carefully entered with a typewriter, carefully aligned with a printer and hand-eye checked, or pressed down firmly with black pen.

Bring back life before all the video games with the player on a shooting killing rampage. That would end the mindless mass shootings IMHO