The impact of strong headwinds on an aircraft’s speed during approach results in decreasing landing rates, generating delays and cancellations at airports with a significant cost to airspace users and the travelling public.
NATS joined the TBS research in SESAR and in 2014 was preparing its first deployment for spring 2015 at London Heathrow airport.
It enabled an average of 2.9 additional landings per hour on strong wind days, and delays caused by headwinds were reduced by up to 60%.
Results have been very successful with a 62% reduction in arrival delays due to headwinds and a marked improvement in overall airport punctuality.
[3] The application of reduced separations in strong headwinds conditions requires the development of a new Air Traffic Controller support tool to optimise delivery of accurate and safe separation at the runway threshold.