Near-Term Procedural Enhancements in Air Traffic Control

Abstract

As the National Airspace System (NAS) of the United States grows in usage and complexity, there is continuous improvement in the procedures that support it. Of particular interest are the improvements that can be made without acquiring new automation or systems. Fundamentally, these improvements are changes to the performance of operations that make better use of the tools and capabilities currently available to the users and service providers. These changes are collectively called “procedural enhancements.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified a number of procedural enhancements that can be implemented in the 1998–2002 time frame, which has been labeled the “near-term” time frame. Due to financial constraints, not all the enhancements can be implemented, so FAA has selected several that could yield efficiency benefits to the NAS. In partnership with FAA, MITRE’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) is assisting with the implementation of several of these near-term procedural enhancements. These include lifting the 250-knot speed limit, improving North American Route Program transitions, reducing flow restrictions, and eliminating air traffic control preferred routes. Analysis and implementation of procedural enhancements by FAA and CAASD continue to assist system efficiency while new automation and tools are being procured.

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