SESAR’s time-based separation (TBS) replaces current distance separations with time intervals in order to adapt to weather conditions. It provides consistent time-based spacing between arriving aircraft in order to maintain runway approach capacity.

The TBS software uses real-time information about the weather, airspeed, ground speed, heading and altitude to display time-based separation and arrival speed information to the approach controller. No changes are required on board the aircraft, but the controller uses the real-time separation indicators to manage the final approach separations.

This SESAR solution #064 is now implemented in London Heathrow