A small Illinois airport updates its coordinates, removing a key navigation beacon
What happened
The Federal Aviation Administration updated the flight rules for Marshall County Airport in Lacon, Illinois. This change removes a ground-based navigation beacon that pilots used to find their way.
Why it matters
Pilots used to rely on a network of ground-based radio beacons to navigate. The FAA is slowly decommissioning these beacons as part of a plan to shift to satellite-based navigation. Each small change like this means pilots must increasingly rely on GPS and other modern systems, rather than older radio signals.
The signal
Watch for more of these small airspace amendments as the FAA continues to remove ground-based navigation aids across the country.