Air traffic controllers at some of the busiest airports in the UK could be about to cut passenger waiting time thanks to new technology that better understands how to separate out landing aircraft. Because of the air turbulence commercial aircraft create behind them thanks to their wings and engines, the traditional landing procedure is to spread out planes by a set distance – depending on wind conditions. In high winds for example, it takes a plane longer to land and as a result the distance between aircraft is increased, which can cause delays.

 

Planes queue to land at Heathrow
(Steve Parsons/PA)

 

Now, thanks to new research from the UK’s national air traffic service (Nats), it has been discovered that in strong head winds the so-called air vortex that is created behind aircraft actually disappears faster, meaning planes could be safely flown closer together. Using a new technology that deploys a technique called “time-based separation”, air traffic controllers can separate planes at set time intervals rather than distance. The new system could cut headwind-related delays by up to 60%, according to Nats.

 

A Plane lands at Heathrow
(Steve Parsons/PA)

 

The system has been trialled at Heathrow for the last year and will now be extended to Gatwick and Manchester airports. The new system used an adaptive and dynamic computer which calculates the speed of incoming aircraft in relation to real-time wind speed, then creating a recommended time interval needed between planes.

(Press Association)