Flying High Over Crowded Skies

Undeniably, air-traffic has worsened threefold overthe larger aircraft with smaller planes. Although this
the last couple of years in the United States.practice is meant to maximize profits by flying with a
Yes, our skies are reaching their saturation point andreduced number of empty seats, it however also
the relative number of aircraft worked by ourmeans that there will be more delays, more
international airports (O'Hare International Airport,congestion and more flights.
New York JFK International Airport, Los AngelesIn an effort to correct these problems, congested
International Airport, Miami International Airport, et al)airports have been making plans of charging landing
is only encountering problems that they create forfees that are based on the traffic volume and the
themselves. The real problem lies in airline scheduling.time the flight lands so as to encourage carriers to
With rising concerns as to the safety of our airspread their operations evenly throughout the day.
traffic system erupting all over the country, surveysHowever, in spite of implementing this new policy,
have shown that the air traffic control system isthere is no quick fix for such a major problem.
indeed falling far behind the growth in air traffic.As dispiriting as the news may seem, there are
Last year, a quarter of the domestic flights failed tohowever measures being taken to reduce these
arrive or leave on time - terming it as the secondproblems and rumours of a new $15 billion
worst airline delay and the second poorestsatellite-based air-traffic control system has been
performance in the industry ever! What's more,doing the rounds for quite some time now. Although
industry analysts have even said that this problem isthis device will take nearly 20 years to improve
likely to get magnified in the next couple of years!operations, at least it is a solution to our problems.
Last year, nearly 26 percent of the commercial flightsBut are we willing to wait that long?
in the United States either arrived late, were delayedTaking all of these problems into consideration, one
or were cancelled for various reasons, namely (1)tends to wonder if chartering flights could be the final
rising passenger demand, and (2) the industrysolution. Chartering flights provides the efficiency,
preference for smaller airplanes, which have in turnflexibility and privacy to make sure your travelling
intensified the congestion on the runways and in theexperience is an enjoyable one. What's more, renting
skies.out an aircraft gets rid off all those annoying flight
However, one must read into the fact that all ofdelays and it has been observed that in the past few
these delays are either caused due to air-trafficyears the demand for charter flights has doubled and
control problems or because of congestion problemscontinues to grow.
in the nationwide aviation system. Major airports likeCharter companies like Flight Management
O'Hare International Airport, New York JFKInternational Inc. have emerged as front-runners in
International Airport, Las Angeles Internationalthe aviation industry what with their private air
Airport, and Miami International Airport have all beentransport solutions that include on-demand charter
caught in the midst of this growing problem.services, turnkey aircraft management, and charter
With the airways getting to be more and moreaircraft management. Flight Management International
crowded, inevitably, the errors have also becomecreates solutions to meet every kind of private air
more and more significant. In their defence, air traffictravel requirement.
controllers in the country have been complainingFurthermore, this year has witnessed the arrival of
about serious staffing shortages, which compel theFMGM that was signed on with Aviation Charters
controllers to work longer hours.(Flight Management International's first carrier) acting
Taking all of these problems into account, analystsas its agent. Maybe we do have the final solution to
have said that there is no scope for improvement inour air travel problems after all.
the near future since airlines still continue to replace