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NextGen Now II

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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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

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