FAA
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
26
NextGen Now | Winter 2014
Hon. Michael Huerta
ADMINISTRATOR
FAA NextGen
FAA TV: NextGen Videos
FAA NextGen Performance
Success Stories
App: NextGen Success Stories
NextGen: General Aviation
NextGen is a team effort, and one of the best examples of that to date is
the success of a sophisticated NextGen software tool called Time-Based
Flow Management (TBFM). TBFM, which enhances safety and efficiency by
optimizing the flow of traffic into capacity constrained areas, enabled air
traffic controllers at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to maintain
nearly normal operations over the past three years while construction reduced
the number of available runways from three to one.
TBFM, used in conjunction with existing, effective air traffic measures such as
miles-in-trail and ground delays, was the primary tool used by controllers at
Ft. Lauderdale to handle 800 to 900 operations per day on what became the
busiest single-operation runway in the country. They were able to maintain
operations at nearly normal levels – even during the peak winter season.
We experienced some delays, but they weren't excessive. I'm pleased to say
runway construction at Ft. Lauderdale is complete and a new runway has
officially opened.
This important NextGen tool is installed throughout the country at 20 en
route centers, 30 Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities and 37 towers.
It optimizes the flow of traffic into constrained areas by scheduling aircraft
to be at a certain place at a certain time. Simply put, it manages the flow
of arrival traffic into TRACON airspace and matches that flow with available
airport capacity. This evens out irregularities and delivers a more consistent
flow of traffic down to the runway, which, in turn, minimizes delays and the
use of fuel-burning measures, such as vectoring, that would otherwise be
required to maintain the proper distances between aircraft. TBFM efficiently
spaced aircraft – a time-based technique known as metering – on approach
to a runway at which only one aircraft could take off or land at a time. The
