Paired Approach Feasibility Analysis for Runway Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and marginal visual conditions, aircraft experience reduced runway throughput due to large separations maintained during landing, and pilots lack timely information about paired approach feasibility and spacing requirements, leading to rushed approach preparations.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method and system for an aircraft to receive and process weather and traffic data to identify feasible target traffic for paired approaches, generating trajectories, estimating arrival times and spacing intervals, and presenting this information on a display unit to enable pilots to optimize approach planning and negotiation with air traffic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If paired approach procedure is implemented to improve runway throughput, then productivity increases, but pilots lack timely information about feasibility and spacing requirements causing rushed approach preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of paired approach feasibility by automatically identifying compatible aircraft pairs, calculating spacing requirements, and determining feasibility metrics before the trailing aircraft reaches the FAF. This advance preparation provides pilots with sufficient time to plan their approach without rushing, while still achieving improved runway throughput through coordinated paired approaches.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ATC determines suitable aircraft pairs for paired approach, then paired approach capability is achieved, but aircraft are not aware of leading aircraft until late notification
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring traffic data and aircraft states, then providing real-time information to pilots about compatible leading aircraft, spacing requirements, and feasibility metrics. This feedback loop ensures pilots are aware of paired approach opportunities well in advance, enabling informed decision-making while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions.
3Ease of operation
If pilots negotiate paired approach with ATC without advance information, then paired approach can be executed, but pilots are rushed in approach preparation during critical phase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs all necessary calculations for paired approach feasibility, including spacing requirements and compatibility assessment, before the aircraft enters the critical approach phase. This preliminary action provides pilots with complete information needed for negotiation with ATC, eliminating the need for rushed decisions during the critical phase while maintaining ease of execution.
4Reliability
If IFR conditions require large separations between aircraft, then safety is maintained, but runway throughput drops significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts separation parameters for paired approaches by calculating precise spacing intervals based on aircraft performance, weather conditions, and trajectory data. This parameter optimization maintains safety standards while reducing excessive separations, thereby increasing runway throughput in IFR conditions without compromising reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for an aircraft entering a terminal radar approach control (TRACON) airspace to identify a number of feasible target traffic for a paired approach for the aircraft. Traffic data is filtered to identify a plurality of neighbor traffic that are entering the TRACON airspace or within the TRACON airspace when the aircraft is entering the TRACON airspace and estimating, concurrently, for each neighbor traffic of the plurality of neighbor traffic: a trajectory, a traffic arrival time at an ideal location for a respective paired approach with the aircraft, a spacing interval between the neighbor traffic and the aircraft for the respective paired approach, and a respective target location for the aircraft to begin the respective paired approach, as a function of the spacing interval. Based on the estimations, the method identifies feasible, marginally feasible, and infeasible targets, and displays this information in an intuitive lateral display.