Payson, AZ airport loses its old navigation beacon, gets new flight rules

The Federal Aviation Administration updated flight rules for Payson, Arizona. This happened because an old radio navigation beacon was shut down. The new rules make sure planes can still use instrument flight procedures safely.

The old navigation system, a non-directional beacon, is a technology from the early days of aviation. As these older systems are decommissioned, the FAA must update airspace rules to rely on newer, often satellite-based, navigation. This small change in Payson is one of many similar updates happening across the country as the US air traffic control system modernizes.