Body of Knowledge Module 4Airport Capacity and DelayThese modules were originally written by Stephen Quilty, A.A.E., and have been updatedby the AAAE BOE, AAAE staff, and industry experts.2004/2005@All Rights ReservedAmerican Association of Airport ExecutivesContentsModule Objectives ............................................................................................. 1Capacity and Delay............................................................................................ 2Impact of Capacity Restraints................................................................... 3Managing Capacity .................................................................................. 6Airfield Characteristics ...................................................................... 6Airspace and Air Traffic Characteristics ............................................ 7Demand Management ........................................................................ 8Slot Management .............................................................................. 11Modeling Airport Capacity..................................................................... 13Technological and Weather Solutions ............................................................. 13National Airspace Architecture .............................................................. 14Impact of Very Large Aircraft ................................................................ 15Meteorological Effects and Weather Aids .............................................. 15Wake Turbulence and Vortices ......................................................... 16Wind Shear ....................................................................................... 17Flight Service Stations ...................................................................... 17Future Weather Technologies ........................................................... 20Summary.......................................................................................................... 20Study Questions ............................................................................................... 21TablesTable A AIP Priority System for Capacity Enhancement ............................................... 2Module ObjectivesCan you....1. describe the airport system, its different elements, and where capacityconstraints can occur within the system?2. explain the difference between throughput and practical capacity?3. identify what constitutes delay and explain its relation to capacity?4. identify sources for delay data?5. explain the central factors and characteristics that act to lower systemcapacity or induce delay?6. list and explain the ways by which demand can be managed?7. explain the pros and cons of the different methods for managingdemand?8. explain the purpose and rationale for airport slots, slot rules, and theirimpact on capacity?9. describe what new technologies are being developed to alleviatecapacity and delay problems at airports?10. describe the effects of different weather phenomenon on airportcapacity?11. explain how weather information is gathered and disseminatedthroughout the aviation system?12. classify the different levels of ASOS available?13. explain the acronyms, terms, and common phrases used in themodules?1Capacity and DelayThe United States Congress and various courts have found that airspace is alimited national resource and should be administered by the FAA. These findingsstated that since it is a limited national resource, the FAA should efficientlymanage the airspace in the public interest to ensure the safety of aircraft in thesystem. Congress further mandated that full consideration be provided fornational defense, commercial and general aviation, and the public right of transit.In making efficient use of the airspace, the FAA air traffic control functionfocuses on the ability of the airspace system to handle the volume of trafficdesiring to use it without incurring an appreciable measure of delay. Delay resultswhen the demand for use of the air traffic and airport systems exceeds the abilityof the systems to handle it.Capacity refers to the ability of a portion of airspace or an airport to handle agiven volume of traffic (demand) within a specified time period. As a result ofairline deregulation and the general strength of the U. S. economy, more peopleare using the system. The resulting increased activity affects not just the capacityof the airfield and gate areas but also the terminal buildings, public access routes,and parking facilities.Beginning with the 1987 Airport and Airway Safety and Capacity Expansion Act(ACEA), funding priority was given to airport projects that focused on enhancingand developing an airport’s overall capacity to handle aircraft and ground opera-tions. The ACEA reauthorization of AIP funds focused on objectives to increasethe capacity of the airport and airway system. It called for giving highest fundingpriority to commercial service airports and maximizing the use of safety facili-ties. This included installing, operating, and maintaining the ten items listed inTable A.1. Electronic or visual guidance on each runway;2. Grooving or friction treatment on each primary and secondary runway;3. Distance-to-go signs for each primary and secondary runway;4. A precision approach, vertical guidance, and full approach light systemfor each primary runway;5. A non-precision instrument approach for each secondary runway;6. Runway end identifier lights on each runway that does not have anapproach light system;7. A surface movement radar (SMR) system at each CAT-III airport;8. Taxiway lighting and sign systems;9. Runway edge lighting, marking; and10. Radar approach coverage for each airport terminal area.Funding of capacity-enhancing projects will always be of major concern toairport operators. AIP priorities tend to change with each Congressional fundingreauthorization. The key issues continue to be the amount of capital required, thesources for the funds, and the means of financing.The ACEA reauthori-zation of AIP gave thehighest fundingpriority to capacity-enhancing projects.Table A: AIP Priority System for Capacity Enhancement2Impact of Capacity RestraintsTo understand the impact of capacity restraints or improvements, airport manage-ment must view the different areas of an airport as a set of interrelated andinterdependent physical facilities and components. For an airport to functionefficiently, the