Principal Investigator R Hansman
A key limitation for airport capacity improvements is wake turbulence in the terminal area. The project studies airport capacity and delay impacts of the new NextGen procedures considering wake vortex interactions. This study looks at arrival and departure scenarios to minimize wake encounter risk and to enhance airport throughput. Separation standards between aircraft are investigated to identify potential runway capacity benefits of wake vortex mitigation processes and procedures. Fast-time computer simulation models for several terminal areas in the National Airspace System will be studied to examine the impacts of the new NextGen environment. The results of this project will provide FAA decision makers with realistic capacity impacts of various NextGen procedures.