Estimates of Potential Increases in Airport Capacity through ATC (Air Traffic Control) System Improvements in the Airport and Terminal Areas

摘要

This report presents the results of a study performed to estimate the potential increases in airfield capacity that might result from improvements in airfield and terminal-area operations. The purpose of the study is to help the Federal Aviation Administration and industry understand the expectations and limitations of airport capacity increases achievable through technical solutions. The focus of the study is on how much of an operational improvement is necessary to increase capacity, not on how new technology results in operational improvements. The study methodology is to identify key parameters, such as interarrival separation minima and runway occupancy time, that are susceptible to change through technical Air Traffic Control system improvements; hypothesize changes in the parameters that may be achieved; and compute the capacity increases that would result from such changes. Upper limits on the potential capacity increases that can realistically be expected are also computed. Keywords: Air traffic control, Visual flight rules, Instrument flight rules.