This paper discusses a concept called “Paired Approaches” which is designed to facilitate approaches to closely spaced parallel runways (CSPRs) - i.e., runways separated by 700 ft to 2500 ft, in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Such runway pairs experience a significant loss of arrival capacity during IMC and marginal visual conditions because currently, runway pairs like this can only be used for simultaneous arrivals when pilots can provide visual separation. The basic procedure design, operations concept, the required cockpit tools and initial feasibility of the paired approach concept were developed in the 1990’s and included real time pilot and controller simulations and evaluations. These initial simulations indicated that the Paired Approach procedure was feasible for both pilots and controllers. This paper focuses on the potential benefits of the procedure. It first provides a brief review of the procedure and prior work. It discusses the variety of procedures currently available for parallel runways, and discusses the magnitude of the delay problem in the National Airspace System (NAS) not addressed by any of these existing procedures or procedures under development, but which the proposed paired approach procedure would address. It presents the potential capacity gain from the paired approach procedure at two representative major airports, and the percentage of time that the procedure could be available. The paper also presents a brief summary of potential infrastructure requirements for implementing the procedure, and concludes by providing an outline of the research and development needed to establish its deployment in the NAS.
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