Reclaiming the Skies: How Air Traffic Control Lost Its Purpose — and How We Can Regain It

Air traffic control was built to manage airspace — not airline schedules. Yet over time, the industry has drifted away from its original purpose. In Reclaiming the Skies, aviation systems expert John van Hoogstraten reveals how decades of well-intentioned change have created a system that reacts to airline priorities instead of managing the skies efficiently. Drawing on more than thirty-five years in air traffic management, van Hoogstraten explains how the drive for “on-time performance” and fragmented decision-making between airlines, airports, and ANSPs have eroded predictability — the lifeblood of a safe, efficient airspace network. The book offers both diagnosis and solution. At its centre lies AFOS – the Airline Flight Optimisation System, a next-generation operational concept designed to connect the airline’s intent with the network’s capacity. By integrating AFOS with Collaborative Decision-Making (CDM), Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), and airport systems, the aviation ecosystem can shift from reaction to anticipation — improving efficiency, sustainability, and trust. Accessible, insightful, and grounded in real-world experience, Reclaiming the Skies is a must-read for air traffic professionals, policymakers, and anyone shaping the future of aviation. View Less