Requirements for integrated flight and traffic management during final approach

Abstract

It is pointed out that significant runway throughput is lost due to ineffective control of aircraft spacing during final approach. The solution is to integrate the terminal air traffic management (ATM) automation process with cockpit avionics via data link. Components of the ultimate integrated TM-cockpit design might include an ATM spacing algorithm that accounts for wake vortex and runway occupancy spacing constraints; downlink of desired final approach speed profile; uplink of desired spacing and threshold crossing times; a heads-up traffic display to provide pilot spacing guidance; a flight management system to drive the aircraft to meet timing requirements; and an ATM display to allow close monitoring of the landing process. The research required to develop this integrated ATM-cockpit concept is presented.<>