Alaska removes three old air routes as their radio beacons shut down

The US Federal Aviation Administration is eliminating three designated air routes in Alaska. This change is happening because the old radio beacons that guided planes along these routes are being shut off.

For decades, air travel in remote areas like Alaska relied on ground-based radio beacons to define safe flight paths. As these old systems are decommissioned, the formal air routes they supported are also being removed. This reflects a broader shift in aviation towards satellite-based navigation, which does not require fixed ground infrastructure.