Required Navigation Performance and 3D Paths in High-Traffic ATM Operations

This paper describes an operational concept that enables increased airport and airspace capacity through the integration of flight management system (FMS) required navigation performance (RNP) capabilities and ground based air traffic management (ATM) automation tools. The concept applies to en route and terminal area operations and uses voice or data link for air/ground communications. This concept is technically feasible for implementation in the 2008-2012 timeframe, assuming that advanced automation tools currently under development are deployed by air traffic service providers. This near-term step is key to successful transition to the next generation air transportation system (NGATS), as it will make a concrete step away from tactical controller vectoring to trajectory-based operations. The paper provide estimates of potential NAS-wide operational benefits of this concept due to increased airport and airspace capacity and increased flight profile efficiency. Airport and airspace capacity is represented in the Boeing national flow model (NFM), which is used to assess the potential delay benefits in current and future schedules that can be expected as system capacity is increased. The NFM is used to model the potential increase in airspace capacity that will be enabled by RNP routes and reduced controller workload due to enhanced automation capabilities