Going direct still requires a fix in each Center’s airspace, but finding the right one is often difficult. There’s a solution for high-flyers that might be available to everyone someday.
GO DIRECT, FIX-BY-FIX
The original structure of the National Airspace System (NAS), with its VORs, airways and intersections, has served us well for decades. But its rapidly becoming outdated in this age of direct navigation between most any two places on the globe. A more structured system already exists: Its called the National Reference System (NRS).
Key Takeaways:
- The National Reference System (NRS) is a modern, grid-based waypoint system with approximately 1600 uniquely named fixes across the U.S., designed to facilitate more direct navigation and overcome the limitations of the traditional VOR/airway system.
- These NRS waypoints are currently usable only in Class A (high-altitude) airspace and are integrated into navigator databases and charts. They enable more direct flight routes, resulting in significant fuel and cost savings for airlines and high-flying aircraft, especially in the western U.S.
- While effective for pre-flight planning, their obscure alphanumeric naming convention makes them impractical for real-time, ad-hoc course changes or verbal communication with air traffic control. Increased adoption, however, could prompt their availability in lower airspace.
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