A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/648546
Hartsfield - Jackson is also the first airport to use Equivalent Lat eral Spacing Operation s (ELSO). ELSO enables controllers to safely reduce the minimum angle between departure routes from 15 degrees to 10 degrees, allowing four flights to depart in the same area that previously a ccommodated only three flights. This is possible because aircraf t equipped with performance - based navigation are able to fly precise paths with pinpoint accuracy, giving controllers more certainty about an aircraft's path. This flexibility makes it possible for controllers to clear as many as eight to 12 additional dep artures every hour, significantly improving capacity and efficiency for the airport. This is saving airlines nearly $20 m illion per year in fuel costs. This past December, ELSO became a NAS - wide standar d, so any airport may use it. We're building on these great accomplishments. In April, we will implement a Metroplex procedure in Atlanta. We saw that during peak periods, a large volume of aircraft depart northeast toward Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York on one ro ute out of Hartsfield - Jackson. On an average day, 159 flights depart on that route while only 22 aircraft use an adjacent route that also serves the bu sy Northeast corridor airports. If it was 8 a.m. and four departing flights were headed northeast, they may all have waited in line while air traffic controllers held each flight to ensure safe separation because these flights would have been "in trail" -- one flight fol lowing directly behind another. The Metroplex team balanced out the departure volume by creating separate routes to these h igh volume destinations. This will allow flights to keep flowing smoothly on their way out of the Atlanta are a and on to their destination. Flights headed to each airport (Reagan National, Philadelphia, JFK, and Dulles) w ill depart in their own lanes. Thes e precise and predictable routes will offer safe separation and more direct and efficient paths to their destination. Wake RECAT, ELSO, and Metroplex are just three examples of the NextGen innovations we've been deli vering all across the country. We've als o recently completed a long - term Performance Based Navigation strategy that will focus on how we can better use PBN strategies and phase out less efficient procedures. This is all great progress. I want to thank all ATO employees involved in our NextGen ef forts and I look forward to seeing us build on the progress we've made. Thanks everyone, Teri L. Bristol ATO Chief Operating Officer MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT NATCA STORE ITEM OF THE WEEK: Fold and Go Stand A fully adjustable stand , perfect for tablets or other mobile devices. This durable, flexible stand is elegant, simple and effective! Made of heavy vinyl - coated steel wire. Attached is a pouch to store headphones or small charger. Comp atible with Apple iPad, Kindle/Kindle Touch/ Kindle Fire , Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorola Xoom, Droid XYBoard , and other e - re aders. On Clearance: $15. Made in USA. Click HERE to view the item and order at natcastore.com . Select USPS or UPS as your shippi ng preference on your orders. As a reminder , apparel and golf tow els take 3 - 4 weeks to deliver. If you need items by a certain date, please contact NATCA Store Customer Serv ice for arrangements. Ex pedite d shipping charges may apply.