Segmented Independent Parallel Approaches utilizing Multilateration and Higher Levels of Automation in Air Traffic Control

Abstract

Airport capacity and environmental issues, especially noise mitigation, are major challenges that aviation faces. From the perspective of flight guidance, the development of laterally segmented approach procedures allows for rerouting around congested areas and is thus a promising approach in coping with these issues. Considering airports with parallel runway systems, an increased airport capacity can be reached when runways are operated independently. This, however, requires straight precision approaches to be conducted according to current guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). To enable independent operations of segmented approaches at parallel runway systems, an elementary safety concept was developed in previous work. Similar to ICAO’s concept on independent parallel approach, but modified for segmented approaches, the safety concept requires approach paths to be monitored by approach controllers. The necessary spacing between the approach paths depends on controllers’ reaction times to spot path deviations and resolve emerging conflicts. Multilateration and automation are two means reducing reaction times and thus necessary path spacing presented in this work. © 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved.