Anonymous

More investment needs to be made to enabling communications capabilities to lower the MEA for T-routes as much as possible in areas where obstruction clearnance is not the limiting factor. This will allow lower altitudes for icing condition avoidance and more utility for GA pilots while also leading to less congisted airways given the greater number of cruise altitude options. By establishing enroute communication to cover the coastal areas up an down entire coasts, T-routes with 2000 to 3000 foot altitudes could be established along the coast (ex. from Los Angeles to Seattle). It is understandable that costs need to be considered in expanding the communication network, but the benefits may outhweight these costs, especially considering that investment is being shifted from VOR operational costs. This is a great way to meld existing technology investment with Next Gen to maximize the benefit and effectiveness of the Next Gen investment.