A small Iowa airport loses its old radio navigation, changes its flight paths
What happened
The Federal Aviation Administration changed the flight paths around Ottumwa, Iowa. This happened because an old radio navigation beacon was shut down.
Why it matters
For decades, air traffic control relied on a network of ground-based radio beacons to guide planes. These beacons are slowly being phased out as planes increasingly use GPS for navigation. This small change in Ottumwa is one of thousands of similar adjustments happening across the country as the US air traffic system modernizes.
The signal
Watch for more of these small airspace amendments as the FAA continues to decommission old VOR stations across the US.