Re: Time
It was more a comment that we are making things needlessly complicated and often (not specifically air travel) dumbing things down so far that many people can't function without their technological crutches.
I don't think either is the case here. ADS-B is simply a tool which allows ATC to do a better job. They can do without, and have, it's just that without ADS-B one cannot handle as many planes nor be so certain as to where they are.
The situation which arose is just the same as it would have been had ADS-B not existed; fewer flights taking off, fewer planes in the air. It's not 'dumbing down' so much as providing additional useful information. It's not a 'crutch' but a facilitator for doing more.
And it's not 'needlessly complicated'. ADS-B merely blindly transmits a plane's ID and where it is. That's as simple as it gets.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
