This not the first time a waypoint has been designated
to recall 9/11. A waypoint published last year over
Shanksville, Pa., was named “GARDN” (Guardian) in honor
of United Flight 93, which crashed after passengers
fought with hijackers for control of the plane and
prevented it from reaching Washington, D.C.
The men and women of America's airways were also deeply
affected by the events of September 11, and airline
pilots and crews have responded strongly to these new
waypoints. Recently, for example, on a morning flight
from Detroit to Reagan National, a Delta Air Lines pilot
came over the Public Address system and began sharing
the story of the new arrival procedure with his
passengers.
As
the flight crew began their precision descent into the
capital area, the pilot read aloud the names of the
waypoints they would be passing through prior to
arrival: HONNR, BRVRY, COURG; MORLL PLDGE: WEEEE WLLLL
NEVER FORGT SEP11, ALWYZ FRDMM.
"As he was reading them," reported one passenger, "the
people were all quiet, and we all stopped talking or
reading or whatever else we were doing. Everyone just
listened. We could hear the pilot starting to get choked
up as he talked about how proud he was to read those
points off as we entered DC."
The FAA’s Metroplex initiative is creating
satellite-based procedures to transform our national
airspace system, making it more flexible and
decreasing our carbon footprint. NextGen flight
tracks, like the procedures commemorating 9/11, will
relieve bottlenecks, improve safety and efficiency,
and foster the flow of commerce. NextGen will
deliver more on-time and fuel-efficient flights, and
continue to ensure that the system remains the
safest air transportation system in the world. These
descents are also powerful proof that we at DOT
remember 9/11 365 days a year.
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