More than 2,000 visitors attended last Thursday’s NBAA business aviation forum at Westchester County Airport in New York, where 133 exhibitors displayed their products and services. In addition, a day-long series of information sessions and seminars helped educate aircraft operators — and prospective buyers — on the benefits of GA.
NBAA chose the occasion to launch its FileSmart program, an educational initiative promoting timely and accurate flight planning to maximize effectiveness of the NextGen air traffic optimization.
FileSmart leverages three key elements of flight planning: file early, file accurately and check the National Airspace System (NAS) ahead of time for optimal routing. With NextGen, air traffic managers will play an increasingly important role in previewing traffic flow in and around the busiest airspace. By filing early, pilots (and dispatchers, where appropriate) can help predict traffic flow, and allow traffic managers to accommodate the most advantageous routes for the largest number of aircraft.
To help pilots access the latest traffic and weather information pertaining to the NAS for their flight planning, a new Website has been established at www.FileSmart.org. Jim McClay, an NBAA air traffic specialist, said, “FileSmart demonstrates for GA aircraft pilots how to use the most up-to-date information available on the NAS, so that their planning is as well informed as possible.”
FileSmart has been in development for more than a year, and NBAA was joined in its development by the FAA and other industry groups, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
