Airport Approach Simulation PROJECT FINAL REPORT DSES-6620 Spring 2002 Airport Approach Simulation Scott Munro

Precision vs. Non-Precision Approach Overview Simulation of IFR Approach at Small Commercial Airport Object: Assess the Benefit of Non-Precision vs. Precision Approach Metrics of Interest: - Number of Landings - Number of Diverts - Average Delay

Precision vs. Non-Precision Approach Instrument Approach Allows Aircraft to Land in Weather which Precludes VFR Flight Operates based on RF equipment which provide: - Course (VOR, ILS Localizer) - Range (DME) Glide slope (ILS) Position (Marker Beacon)

Non-Precision Approach Description VOR Rwy 2 Course via VOR Radial Range via DME Limits - Visibility: 1 mile - Minimum Descent Alt: 380 ft

Precision Approach Description ILS Rwy 2 Course via ILS Localizer Range via DME Glide Slope Limits - Visibility: 3/4 mile - Minimum Descent Alt: 257 ft

Simulation Methodology The following elements must be considered… Element Impact   Approach Procedure Time and weather required to successfully execute the approach. Time required to execute the missed approach procedure. Air Traffic Control Minimum separation between aircraft, and aircraft arrival rate. Federal Aviation Regulations Fuel on board for each aircraft on an instrument flight plan. Weather Current ceilings, visibility, and winds at any given time during the simulation. Aircraft Performance Approach speeds, landing distances and maximum crosswind limits for landing.

Weather US National Climatic Data Center Surface Weather Observations Over 10000 hours of Weather Observations Used Application “weather.exe” Created to Decode SWO’s and Build Weather Database Model Weather Database - Visibility Ceilings Wind Speed and Direction

Weather Out of Limits

Aircraft Performance Piper PA-28 Single Engine Fixed Gear Landing Performance - w/ Head Wind - w/ Tail Wind Maximum Crosswinds Speed - 70 KIAS Approach - 63 KIAS Final - 90 KIAS Missed Approach

Air Traffic Control and FAR Maintain IFR Separation Between Aircraft 3 nm or 2.0 minutes at 90 knots Federal Aviation Regulations – Fuel Requirements Fly to the Destination Airport, then… Fly to the Alternate Airport, then… Fly 45 minutes longer

Air Traffic Control and FAR Maintain IFR Separation Between Aircraft 3 nm or 2.0 minutes at 90 knots Federal Aviation Regulations – Fuel Requirements Fly to the Destination Airport, then… Fly to the Alternate Airport, then… Fly 45 minutes longer

Approach Model

Approach Model Weather Data Playback via UpdateWeather() IFR Separation via Single Capacity Queue Segments Fuel via FuelRemaining Entity Attribute Transit Time via Triangular Distribution

Results Average Non-Precision Approach Delay : 4.43 minutes Table 1 – Total Airport Approach Performance Table 2 – Airport Approach Performance Per Hour Average Non-Precision Approach Delay : 4.43 minutes Average Precision Approach Delay : 3.55 minutes