1.   It also does not alert controllers if a flight has deviated from its official flight plan.

2.   It was not clear Wednesday whether the system alerted the controllers to the wind gusts.

3.   The current air traffic system does not alert controllers if a transponder has been turned off.

4.   The Swissair pilots reported smoke in the cockpit when they first alerted air-traffic controllers about problems on the New York-to-Geneva flight.

5.   The FAA recently announced plans to install a collision-warning system at major airports that uses existing radar to alert controllers.