Potential impacts on advanced technologies on the ATC capacity of high-density terminal areas

Abstract

Advanced technologies for airborne systems (automatic flight control, flight displays, navigation) and for ground ATC systems (digital communications, improved surveillance and tracking, automated decision-making) create the possibility of advanced ATC operations and procedures which can bring increased capacity for runway systems. A systematic analysis is carried out in this report to identify certain such advanced ATC operations, and then to evaluate the potential benefits accruing over time at typical US high-density airports (Denver and Boston). The study is divided into three parts: Part 1, "A Critical Examination of Factors Which Determine Operational Capacity of Runway Systems at Major Airports", is an intensive review of current US separation criteria and terminal area ATC operations. It identifies 11 new methods to increase the capacity of landings and takeoffs for runway systems; Part 2 - "Development of Risk Based Separation Criteria", is the development of a rational structure for establishing reduced ATC separation criteria which meet a consistent Target Level of Safety using advanced technology and operational procedures; Part 3 - "Estimation of Capacity Benefits from Advanced Terminal Area Operations - Denver and Boston", provides an estimate of the overall annual improvement in runway capacity which might be expected at Denver and Boston from using some of the advanced ATC procedures developed in Part 1. Whereas Boston achieved a substantial 37% increase, Denver only achieved a 4.7% increase in its overall annual capacity.