World's first 'time based' air traffic system introduced

A leading global provider of Air Traffic Management services has introduced a new system at Heathrow that will separate arriving aircraft by time instead of distance.
The system is bound to radically cut delays and reduce cancellations due to high headwinds, NATS has announced here.
According to VisitBritain, it is expected that there will be a 40 per cent increase of tourists from the UAE heading to London by 2020.
The new system, set to become operational from next year, will halve the current delay figure by saving 80,000 minutes every year.
"Time based separation will reduce delays and cancellations while improving the airport's resilience against disruption. That's why we've accelerated the project to bring it into operational use in 2015," said John Swift, NATS Middle East Director.

"The introduction of time based separation at Heathrow is the world's first and will deliver benefits for GCC nationals travelling to London. The number of travellers from the region is expected to increase over the coming years, following the launch of the visa waiver initiative for UAE, Oman and Qatari nationals," he said.

"It is therefore paramount that we work on helping to make travel as smooth and efficient as possible," he added.
Traditionally, flights are separated by set distances dependent on the type of aircraft and the size of the spiralling turbulence - or wake vortex - they create as they fly.

During strong headwind conditions, aircraft fly more slowly over the ground resulting in extra time between each arrival.
Having to maintain a set separation distance in those conditions therefore reduces the landing rate and can have a significant knock-on effect to airport capacity, causing delays and cancellations.
"While time based separation is being introduced initially at Heathrow, it would also prove beneficial at other major airports both in the UK and around the world," Martin Rolfe, NATS Managing Director Operations said.