Conceptual Approach for an Integrated Capability of Arrival/Departure/Surface Management with Tactical Runway Management

Abstract

Both NASA and DLR have extensively studied the efficient use of runways. For instance, DLR is conducting research on tactical decision support tools for air traffic controllers (ATCO) to achieve compact and coordinated arrival and departure sequences that also consider surface traffic. Arrival/Departure/Surface Management Systems (A/D/S-MAN) individually plans every aircraft and displays its calculation results as advisories to the ATCO for implementation. In the area of runway management, NASA has focused on developing a decision support tool to assist air traffic personnel with decisions regarding selection of runway configurations and runway usage. The TRCM capability addresses near-term runway management planning horizons. These decision support tools are intended for use by those making runway management decisions (usually supervisors or traffic flow managers) in the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and in airport traffic control towers (ATCT).