Terminal Decision Support Tool
The future of terminal airspace
With the US currently in the process of transforming its National Airspace (NAS) to meet the challenges
of the 21st century through Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), airspace users are calling for a tool that is designed
to help improve efficiency in some of the nation’s most congested airspace. A decision support tool is needed that allows controllers
to maximize utilization of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures which allow aircraft to fly from the Terminal Radar Approach Control
Facilities (TRACON) arrival fix in a consistent, efficient, and predictable arrival path to the runway.
The TDST team decided to delve deeper into terminal air space operations to identify current gaps in utilizing PBN procedures. Once these gaps
were identified, TDST examined the available terminal decision support tools and provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a more complete
alternative analysis study. This was geared to help in the decision making of how to overcome such shortfalls and optimize aircrafts navigation procedures
in the terminal airspace through an advanced tool that is easily maintained by terminal controllers.
