Airports with more than one runway stand to benefit from dynamic assistance tools that increase the predictability of runway capacity and contribute to more efficient configuration of arrivals and departures. The runway manager (RMAN) tool which developments started under SESAR 1 is used by the tower supervisor to determine the optimal runway configuration and distribution of demand according to capacity and local constraints. Since the demand is continuously evolving along time, the RMAN continuously computes the optimal runway configuration and the associated forecasted landing (FLDT) and take-off times (FTOT) of arrival and departures flights that maximises the runway throughput.

SESAR 2020 combines the runway manager and the integrated runway sequence tool to further improve flight punctuality and minimise delay. The forecasted times calculated by the RMAN are provided to the Integrated runway sequence using them to calculate the final target times and detect any imbalances. The concept is supported by improved prediction about runway occupancy times provided by ground-based systems, which measure the time taken to line up, take-off, land and vacate the runway.

SESAR validated the concept of combining runway manager and integrated runway sequence tools managing arrivals and departures at a large airport during several exercises, in particular a real-time simulation in Barcelona-El Prat airport environment. During the validation exercise, integrating the tools was shown as technically and operationally feasible with updated runway sequence information presented to the controller. A stable and reliable arrival/departure sequence was produced. Average delay was reduced as a result of extending the planning horizon, and punctuality improved. Average flight time was reduced for arrivals as the runway manager was able to take advantage of free gaps in the sequence.

The positive results support transition to industrialisation for this solution, along with a development of an appropriate human machine interface to present the integrated runway sequence order for arrivals and departures.

The solution is available for industrialisation.

BENEFITS

• Raises capacity by optimising arrival and/or departure sequencing
• Reduces environmental impact and fuel consumption
• Improves controller productivity
• Improves sequence stability

DATAPACKS

• PJ.02-08-02 Contextual Note_Final 
• SESAR 2020 PJ02-08 D6.1.21 V3 TS IRS 00.03.00 
• SESAR 2020 PJ02-08 D6.1.24 V3 CBA 00.03.00 
• SESAR 2020 PJ02-08 D6_1_20 V3 SPR INTEROP OSED Part I
• SESAR 2020 PJ02-08 D6_1_20 V3 SPR INTEROP OSED Part II
• SESAR 2020 PJ02-08 D6_1_20 V3 SPR INTEROP OSED Part IV
• SESAR2020 PJ02-08 D6_1_20 V3 SPR INTEROP OSED Part V 
• SORT DEMOR