Air traffic over the US and Canada will now route by satellite, not ground beacons

The US is changing several air traffic routes over its northcentral region. This is happening because Canada is shutting down old ground-based navigation beacons and switching to satellite navigation.

For decades, airplanes navigated using radio signals from ground stations. This meant air routes had to follow lines between these beacons. Now, with satellite navigation, planes can fly more direct paths, saving fuel and time. This change is part of a broader shift in air traffic control, moving from fixed ground infrastructure to more flexible, satellite-based systems.