AIRPORT AND TERMINAL-AREA OPERATIONS: OPERATOR'S PERSPECTIVE

The growing lack of airport capacity and resultant delays is one of the major problems facing the aviation industry today, and it is expected to become more severe unless mitigating steps are taken. Runway and land-use restrictions, airspace constraints, and environmental considerations have all become factors affecting an airfield capacity already overtaxed during peak periods when aircraft demand exceeds airport capacity. To significantly increase future airport capacity and reduce delays there must be improvements to airspace procedures and improvements to airports. Suggested airspace procedure improvements include the development of a Wake Vortex Alleviation System to allow reduced aircraft separation standards under certain meteorological conditions, and the redefinition of "heavy aircraft" by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in order to reclassify aircraft such as the DC-8, B767, and A300/A310 to "large", rather than "heavy". In addition to these improvements, noise abatement constraints should be reviewed so that the new generation of Stage 3 quieter aircraft may allow the opening of previously restricted overflight areas. There are several modifications or improvements to Terminal-Area Air Traffic Control Procedures which offer benefits to airport operations. Airport improvements can be brought about by research into an advanced system for the provision of surface movement guidance and control, and by examining possible alternatives such as the development of a system of VTOL facilities strategically located in the City Centers to serve the significant short-haul passenger markets and remove this activity from the airport.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trcircular/325/325-010.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Circular No. 325, Airport and Terminal-Area Operations of the Future, Report of a Special Meeting, National Academy of Sciences, October 7-8, 1986, Washington, D.C. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Sloane, A M
• Publication Date: 1987-12

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p. 44-48
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: 325
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Aircraft; Aircraft guidance systems; Airports; Airspace (Aeronautics); Airspace (Law); Classification; Development; Guidance systems; Improvements; Noise control; Operations; Research; Traffic delays; VTOL aircraft; Wakes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Capacity; Operational analysis; Research and development
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00465581
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 29 1988 12:00AM