JUSTIN WASTNAGE / BRUSSELS
Eurocontrol has launched a programme to increase runway capacity at 10 second-tier European airports as studies show around two-thirds of delays to be airport-related.
Last year, Europe had the fewest en route delays ever, despite record traffic figures. However, Eurocontrol fears that the benefits gained by investments in air traffic management (ATM) technology, such as reduced vertical separation minima and 8.33kHz voice channel spacing, could be lost if airports do not change airside infrastructure and procedures, says Eurocontrol director of ATM programmes George Paulson.
Based on findings from five airports, the agency is now launching the runway capacity efficiency and enhancement initiative in which it acts as a consultant to airports. Eurocontrol aims to complete its analysis and recommendations to 10 second-tier airports by the end of the second quarter next year, says Paulson.
Eurocontrol figures for traffic on last year's single busiest day, 12 September, show that out of a total of 28,250 movements at European airports, just under 10% of all flights suffered delays, of which only 31% were caused by air traffic control, with the remainder caused by airports or air traffic flow management. Paulson says the figures, which are similar for the entire year, prove airports are the new "bottleneck" in the air traffic system.
Eurocontrol is using findings from studies carried out on runway use at Barcelona, Brussels, Helsinki, Milan and Stockholm to form the new initiative. The agency recommends changes to runway layout such as rapid exit taxiways and staggered holding points; changes to pilot procedures such as roll-out and turn-on; and making better use of available technology such as nominated runway exit point autobrake settings.
Eurocontrol estimates effective runway capacity at Europe's busiest 15 airports to be around 30% below theoretical maximum. As part of the organisation's new "gate-to-gate" remit, it is working to convince airport operators to change ramp procedures, runway layout and equipment in a bid to reduce runway occupancy times and pilot reaction times, he says.
Paulson says airport operators have traditionally preferred to invest in retail and commercial operations rather than runway infrastructure.
"We have to go to meet the airports and make a business case; spending roughly €3 million [$3.7 million] on runway configuration can raise capacity by around 10%, which equals 2.5 million more passengers a year at this size of airport," he says.
Source: Flight International
