The Associated Press reported that the Senate has voted last Monday to approve a bill that would phase out the use of radar in aviation control system, replacing it with GPS technology. The $34.5 billion bill requires key elements of the Federal Aviation Administration’s next generation program be in place by 2014.

With the implementation of this satellite-based positioning system, it is expected to ease airport operation and cut down flight delay by allowing planes to take more direct routes and fly much closer to each other.

In my personal opinion, what’s more important is that the GPS system must be guarded from unauthorized users which could temper the navigation or position of planes that may cause catastrophe. A failsafe measure must also be in place to ensure that the air traffic controller able to control of the sky even if the GPS satellite is down.