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> cars have to navigate what is basically a set a of 1 dimensional corridors on a 2 dimensional plane. Airplanes don't have these limitations and can fly point

> cars have to navigate what is basically a set a of 1 dimensional corridors on a 2 dimensional plane. Airplanes don't have these limitations and can fly point to point at their choice of altitude. That's not entirely correct. Planes also have corridors in the sky. Just like roads, there are the highways (with different altitudes for different directions) and slower lanes for smaller aircraft. And airports are basically a confluence of many lanes, which requires a coordination (air traffic controllers). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airway_(aviation) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airway_(aviation)

xhkkffbf 7y ago
Yes, but these are just by convention. Some pilots argue quick forcefully for allowing point-to-point navigation to save fuel and time. In any case, it's easy to set up another "road" just a few thousand yards north, south, east, west and up or down.
jillesvangurp 7y ago
Depends on what class of airspace you are in and weather you are flying under IFR or with some kind of flight following & flight plan. But even then the air ways can be stacked vertically. If you are flying vfr and in an airspace where that is allowed, you can pretty much go where you want as long as you stay away from controlled areas. Basically most helicopters fly VFR. The recent accident with Kobe Bryant involved a VFR flying helicopter flying into fog in LA.
- bdamm 7y ago
  True, but to provide reliable commuting you pretty much have to fly IFR, especially in a place like SF Bay or LA. This is because often marine layer clouds don't clear until 10am and people want to be at work long before then. It may be possible to do a lot more to improve the availability of IFR approaches and routes if we factor in automated systems. It's going to take a lot longer to build more airports, but I can tell you that pretty much every airport manager in the United States will be thrilled to face that problem.
nradov 7y ago
The FAA is trying to eliminate the need for those corridors under the "Free Flight" program, however progress has been slow and it's unclear whether this approach will ever be fully implemented.

xhkkffbf 7y ago

Yes, but these are just by convention. Some pilots argue quick forcefully for allowing point-to-point navigation to save fuel and time. In any case, it's easy to set up another "road" just a few thousand yards north, south, east, west and up or down.

jillesvangurp 7y ago

Depends on what class of airspace you are in and weather you are flying under IFR or with some kind of flight following & flight plan. But even then the air ways can be stacked vertically. If you are flying vfr and in an airspace where that is allowed, you can pretty much go where you want as long as you stay away from controlled areas. Basically most helicopters fly VFR. The recent accident with Kobe Bryant involved a VFR flying helicopter flying into fog in LA.

bdamm 7y ago
True, but to provide reliable commuting you pretty much have to fly IFR, especially in a place like SF Bay or LA. This is because often marine layer clouds don't clear until 10am and people want to be at work long before then. It may be possible to do a lot more to improve the availability of IFR approaches and routes if we factor in automated systems. It's going to take a lot longer to build more airports, but I can tell you that pretty much every airport manager in the United States will be thrilled to face that problem.

nradov 7y ago

The FAA is trying to eliminate the need for those corridors under the "Free Flight" program, however progress has been slow and it's unclear whether this approach will ever be fully implemented.