A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/434417
PERFORMANCE BASED NAVIGATION PBN 16 NextGen Now | Winter 2014 Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures are implemented to increase the number of aircraft air traffic controllers can direct, improve fuel efficiency for airlines, and create safer procedures for air traffic control and pilots alike. Cities like Houston, Anchorage, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis, Portland, Ore., Nashville, Minneapolis, Denver, and Washington, D.C., have seen the positive effects PBN has on the safety and efficiency of the surrounding airspace. On June 24, 2011, the D.C. OAPM for the Metroplex Design and Implementation Team began working through a collaborative process based on PBN, or better known as Area Navigation (RNAV) procedures, within the Washington metropolitan area. "We realized early in the process our team could achieve great successes that not only benefit the FAA, NATCA, and the industry, but also hundreds of thousands of people, by working in a collaborative environment," said NATCA D.C. Metroplex Article 48 Representative Bennie Hutto. The team saw a great collaborative opportunity to innovate and make a difference to all constituents, as well as improve the safety of the NAS. "We have always been about doing the right things for the right reasons, which has allowed us to redesign the airspace and procedures within and around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, while maintaining or increasing the level of safety within the NAS," explained Hutto. "It has also allowed us to reduce controller/pilot workload, flying miles, and fuel burn for the industry, which reduces the carbon footprint and is a win for everyone as we continue to work towards greener skies." To date, the team has altered airspace and implemented RNAV Standard Terminal Arrivals (STARS) and RNAV Standard Instrument Departures (SIDS) for aircraft arriving or departing Washington Dulles Airport (IAD), Washington National Airport (DCA), Richmond International Airport (RIC), Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI), Teterboro Airport (TEB), Caldwell Airport (CDW), Morristown Airport (MMU), Leesburg Airport (JYO), Gaithersburg Airport (GAI), Eastern Airport (ESN), Carroll County Airport (DMW), Manassas Airport (HEF), and Frederick Airport (FDK). These changes have impacted the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZDC), New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZNY), Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZOB), Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZID), Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control (PCT), New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (N90), Philadelphia Air Traffic Control Tower (PHL), IAD, DCA, BWI, RIC, Harrisburg Air Traffic Control Tower (MDT), and Johnston Radar Approach Control (JST RAPCON).