1 CAPACITY-RELATED BENEFITS OF PROPOSED CNS/ATM TECHNOLOGIES

The US National Airspace System (NAS) consists of interrelated elements of communication, navigation, surveillance (CNS), and air traffic management (ATM). Numerous improvements to these elements are currently under consideration which will yield a variety of benefits. This paper focuses on the capacity-related benefits of operations in the extended terminal area, including both transition and terminal airspace. The key benefit mechanism impacting airport capacity is trajectory prediction accuracy used in ATM arrival scheduling and sequencing algorithms. Improved trajectory prediction accuracy will benefit airport operations because it enables: (1) improved airport throughput by reducing excess spacing between successive aircraft; and (2) a more cost-effective distribution of aircraft delay between Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) airspaces. Using a previously-developed benefits analysis method, the paper estimates capacity-related time and fuel cost savings of 3 proposed phases of future CNS/ATM technologies, using the current operating system as the baseline for comparison. US Government research and technology development efforts are underway which will improve existing Communication, Navigation, an