Computers have become an essential tool in the world in which

          we live and nowhere is this more evident than in the field of

          aviation.  The airplane industry, both commercial and military,

          is virtually a breeding ground for the advancement and

          implementation of computers.  The complexity and enormity that

          aviation has evolved into never would have resulted without the

          use of computers.  Computers are involved in all facets of

          aviation.  From before the plane is manned until all the




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          passengers have been deposited, computers are fast at work

          increasing the efficiency and safety of the flight.  While

          computers have long existed in the realm of air traffic control,

          the advancement of computers into the airline industry and into

          the cockpit of planes has now arrived.  Aviation offers endless

          possibilities to the technological advancements of computers.  It

          is the purpose of this paper to view the role computers play in

          the airline industry, there importance to air traffic control,

          and their most recent implementaion into the cockpit of the

          planes.


            The past few years has seen marked changes within the airline

          industry.  Prior to 1978, America's airline corporations have

          been subject to Government regulations in both rates and prices.

          But in 1978 Congress concluded that the Government reg- ulations

          were limiting competition and technological advancement.  Thus,

          the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 was passed by Congress.

          This set the airline industry into a frenzy whereby "a collection

          of carefully coddled corporations were turned into a group of

          competing companies waging a full scale dogfight, no holds

          barred, where only the toughest and leanist might s