Terminal Control (TC) Approach operations currently employ “Open-loop” techniques to sequence and space the arrival traffic. This entails the use of tactical vectors: heading, speed and vertical altitude intervention, to merge traffic onto the line of the Final Approach ILS (Instrument Landing System).

Point Merge is a method of merging arrival flows with existing technology including PBN. Under a Point Merge System, the aircraft are merged to a point using “Closed-loop” techniques. This technique allows controllers to sequence and merge arrivals without vectoring, while enabling continuous descent operations and maintaining runway throughput, even under high traffic.

This concept builds on previous concept development and implementation by further developing it to cater for a Point Merge centric PBN route structure and operating method for Very High Capacity (VHC) or High Capacity (HC) needs TMAs.

This concept provides a Point Merge centric PBN route structure and operating method for a complex TMA. Therefore, the concept is centred on Point Merge procedures but also incorporates aspects of PBN route structures for Arrivals & Departures so that a fully effective concept for TMA airspace is developed.

NOTE: Point Merge usually relies on existing technology on-board aircraft such as PBN navigation specification. More stringent navigation specifications (RNP x) may be used if deemed necessary depending on local/specific requirements (e.g. airspace complexity, terrain clearance, runway spacing in case of independent parallel approaches, etc...).

NOTE FOR MILITARY AUTHORITIES: It is the responsibility of each military authority to review this Objective IN ITS ENTIRETY and address each of the SLoAs that the military authority considers RELEVANT for itself. This has to be done on top and above of the review of "MIL" SLoAs which identify actions EXCLUSIVE to military authorities.

Edition

2022

Stakeholders

Air Navigation Service Provider / Airspace Users

Type

SESAR

Scope

Local/Airport

Status

Active