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More Details Emerge about FAA's Airspace Flow Program Changes Not only is the FAA doubling the number of AFPs (airspace flow programs) it will use to manage traffic flows this summer, it also is increasing the use of "dynamic" programs, and filling slots through what it calls "adaptive compression." The agency recently announced that 11 new AFPs were being added to the seven that existed in 2006, meaning 18 AFPs are now available to help manage traffic across much of the country from the Mississippi River eastward. Five of the new AFPs form a line, generally along the Mississippi River, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The other six are divided between the Memphis and Indianapolis centers. All of the eleven new locations are static (geographically fixed), but will gradually change to become ones that can be moved as conditions require. According to background information, written by Mike Orkiszewski, and currently posted on the FAA's Air Traffic Organization's Website, Mike Sammartino, the FAA's director of system operations, says "dynamic is really where I want to get to," meaning that AFPs need to be tailored with more precision to prevent unnecessary ground delays, and this is beginning to happen. For example, while the new Memphis Center AFP still uses a static line to identify its location, the length of the line can be dynamically changed as conditions dictate, which reduces the amount of airspace where an EDCT (estimated departure clearance time) delay is needed.
New Memphis AFP The Indianapolis Center's AFP location is also static, but is defined in the form of a polygon rather than the lines used elsewhere.
New Indianapolis AFP And AFPs in polygon shapes may be a precursor of the future. New dynamic AFPs will begin using a free-form to identify constraints, and place them anywhere they are needed. Guidelines will ensure that these programs are created with enough lead time to permit airlines to protect their usual slots. Adaptive Compression Adaptive compression helps ensure that all slots in a program are used by using a background process in the FAA's ETMS (enhanced traffic management system) that monitors ground delay programs and AFPs for open slots. According to Mr. Sammartino, It's an automated process that continues "to roll airplanes up" that can make their departure time, which reduces delays on those flights. "In the past, because it was a manual process, you'd have to hunt and peck to figure out which airplanes weren't going to make it." 06-02-2007. |
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