Mayday (2003)

Episode Overview

The episode delves into pivotal aviation disasters, including the 1956 Grand Canyon and 1986 Cerritos mid-air collisions, as well as incidents involving Avianca Flight 52, Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907, and the Überlingen tragedy. It highlights the crucial function of air traffic controllers within the aviation sector and explores the Next Generation Air Transportation System. This innovative technology aims to prevent mid-air collisions by minimizing reliance on traditional radar and radio communications while transferring some responsibilities of air traffic controllers to onboard computers in aircraft.