Flocking or swarming algorithms simulate the movements of bird flocks or schools of fish. Swarming algorithms have primarily been used in gaming and simulations, though the US Air Force has proposed using the algorithm for positioning of satellite constellations. Now, Géraud Granger, a researcher from CENA, suggests that such algorithms could be applied to air traffic control. Granger and colleages have proposed a distributed system, called Free flight Autonomous and Coordinated Embarked Solver (FACES), that allows airplanes to coordinate navigation and avoidance manoeuvres. New Scientist has a short article on their work.