NextGen Taxi, Push Back, Departure
Updated: 1:04 pm ET February 12, 2009
As the time for the flight approaches, the final flight path agreement will be delivered as a data message to pilots who access the agreement before beginning the flight. To improve the pilot’s situational awareness, flight deck displays will portray aircraft movement on a moving map that indicates the aircraft’s own position on the airport as well as the position of other aircraft and equipped vehicles in the vicinity. These flight deck displays are important safety tools that will help further prevent runway incursions and other potential on-ground conflicts.
With new tools that improve situational awareness and help manage the flow of aircraft to and from the ramp, controllers will be able to more efficiently manage the use of taxiways and runways, which will mean fewer radio transmissions, shorter wait times, fewer departure delays, increased fuel savings and reduced emissions. The system will recommend the best runway and taxi path to controllers based on the departing aircraft’s intended flight path, and the status and positions of all other aircraft on the airport and in the terminal area.
Departure performance will be improved by implementing multiple precise departure paths from each runway end. This will allow each departing aircraft to be placed on its own, separate path, keeping the aircraft safely separated from other aircraft and wake vortices. These multiple paths also will be an important aid to circumnavigating thunderstorms and other severe weather in the airport vicinity.
Precise departure paths will optimize system operations for entire metropolitan areas, reducing delays by allowing each airport to operate more independently. This will provide for better balance of arrivals and departure flow to airports within close proximity. These precise departures can also be designed to support airports that are now limited by terrain and other obstacles or during periods of reduced visibility. Precise paths will reduce flight time, fuel burn and emissions. They may also decrease the impact of aircraft noise to surrounding communities.
For airports with closely-spaced parallel runways, wind monitoring systems will allow for simultaneous operations by determining when wake vortices from departing aircraft have sufficiently dissipated and are not hazardous, safely reducing runway waiting time.
The ability to operate simultaneously on closely-spaced parallel runways means airports will gain capacity from their existing runways. Airports may also be able to build new runways without expanding the physical airport boundaries, reducing cost and impact to surrounding neighborhoods and natural habitat.
Together, these capabilities will enhance safety, improve environmental performance, and reduce costs to operators in time and fuel savings.
Technical Details
Solution Set - High Density Airports (HD)
Mid Term Operational Capability - Operational Capability Number (Linked to NAS Enterprise Architecture)
- Improved Operations to Closely-Spaced Parallel Runways - 102141
- Initial Surface Traffic Management - 104209
- Integrated Arrival/Departure Airspace Management - 104122
Solution Set - Flexible Terminals and Airports (FLEX)
Mid Term Operational Capability - Operational Capability Number (Linked to NAS Enterprise Architecture)
1:04 pm ET February 12, 2009