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Enhanced Airport Capacity Through Safe, Dynamic Reductions in Aircraft Separation: NASA's Aircraft VOrtex Spacing System (AVOSS)An aspect of airport terminal operations that holds potential for efficiency improvements is the separation criteria applied to aircraft for wake vortex avoidance. These criteria evolved to represent safe spacing under weather conditions conducive to the longest wake hazards, and are consequently overly conservative during a significant portion of operations. Under many ambient conditions, such as moderate crosswinds or turbulence, wake hazard durations are substantially reduced. To realize this reduction NASA has developed a proof-of-concept Aircraft Vortex Spacing System (AVOSS). Successfully operated in a real-time field demonstration during July 2000 at the Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport, AVOSS is a novel integration of weather sensors, wake sensors, and analytical wake prediction algorithms. Gains in airport throughput using AVOSS spacing as compared to the current criteria averaged 6%, with peak values approaching the theoretical maximum of 16%. The average throughput gain translates to 15-40% reductions in delay when applied to realistic capacity ratios at major airports.
Document ID
20010089337
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
OConnor, Cornelius J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Rutishauser, David K.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 2001
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2001-211052
NAS 1.15:211052
L-18112
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 727-01-26-02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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