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New communication technology helps eliminate delays at Sea-Tac Airport

KIRO 7 got a look at the new technology that has revolutionized how pilots and air traffic controllers communicate.

Instead of updating flight plans in what can be long radio chats, the controllers can now send the information directly to the plane and it updates automatically.

On Wednesday, pilots and controllers told KIRO 7 it’s making a huge difference including helping to eliminate delays.

It’s called Data Communication or Data Comm.

“It's been a big change,” said Sea-Tac controller Heidi Gilbert. “It saves so much time and efficiency as opposed to constantly talking to the airplanes.”

With the radio communication system, if there is a change in the flight plan, a pilot would get that information from air traffic control and have to physically enter all that information after reading it back to double check. It can sometimes take five minutes for one plane. But with the new Data Comm, the information gets sent directly and it automatically updates.

“It's been a long time coming and we're all excited to see it,” said Bret Peyton, a 737 captain and the director of fleet technology for Alaska Airlines. “We've had story after story rolling in about it making a huge deal.”

With radio communication, if there’s a change, the plane would have to get out of line for departures.

Gilbert talked about the process.

“Finding the aircraft, pulling them out of the line,” she said.

“Giving them information, them typing it, verifying everything and then getting back in line to depart.”

That's where it impacts you.

If your plane gets pulled out of line your flight is delayed.

Not all planes have the new system yet. About 27 percent of planes at SeaTac do -- with more being added each week.

Alaska Airlines has retrofitted a third of its 160 planes.

The project has been a collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration, airlines, and air traffic controllers.

And the FAA boasts that it's two years ahead of schedule and tens of millions under budget.

“It's just been a real success story,” Peyton said.

“All the way around.”