GE Aviation Tests New Technology

Test flight signals larger GE, Boeing FAA role
An American Airlines flight last week became the first in the U.S. to land using an approach designed by a private company, which may lead to a larger role for business in crafting routes for the government.
 Flight 1916 from Dallas landed at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, on Thursday, guided by procedures written by General Electric Co.'s Naverus unit. The flight shows companies can speed the redesign of routes, helping carriers save time and fuel, said Brian Will, director of airspace modernization at AMR Corp.'s American.

"We will use this all the time," Will, who flew American's Boeing Co. 737-800 to Connecticut, said of the landing approach in an interview. "It's a benefit to us."