UK: Enhanced time-based separation system further increases Heathrow capacity

London Heathrow air traffic controllers have begun using an enhanced time-based separation system to reduce wake separation between landing airliners. The new system, part of what UK air navigation service provider NATS calls its optimised runway delivery tool, is expected to increase capacity at the airport by at least 1 arrival and 1 departure per hour, increasing the airport’s operational resilience and improving punctuality. The system went active March 16. Heathrow has been making use of TBS since 2015, primarily on windy days to help maintain the flow rate of landings. Research using Lidar sensors found that strong headwinds dissipated the effect of wake vortices, allowing landing separation distances to be reduced. The system’s introduction has already saved thousands of minutes of delays each year. <br/>