Identification and visualization of constrained airspaces

Abstract

The proximity of satellite airports to primary airports increases airspace complexity resulting in all aircraft having to compete for constrained airspace. When passing through constrained airspace, aircraft need to be slowed down, leveled off, or vectored to avoid each other, leading to increases in flight delays, fuel burn and Air Traffic Control (ATC) workload. The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) has developed a capability to identify and graphically display areas of constrained airspace. This capability provides a means to determine where procedural adjustments, particularly those which make use of PBN capabilities, could result in deconflicted and more efficient operations. A transparent and automated methodology was developed and the results from this capability are provided in both a tabulated and graphical format using the Keyhole Markup Language (KML), allowing the concepts to be easily communicated to a wide audience. This capability has been successfully applied at 48 airports across the National Airspace System (NAS) and the findings were reviewed positively by ATC subject matter experts.