Estimating the impact of increasing Pilot-Applied Separation on Approach

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the potential benefits of cockpit-based applications that receive Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) information from other aircraft, more generally referred to as ADS-B In. This paper explores the benefit connecting ADS-B In to increased runway throughput by expanding the use of pilot-applied separation using a proposed application referred to as Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) Assisted Separation (CAS). The analysis relies on the measured use and impact of visual approaches and pilot-applied visual separation using an analysis of transcript and trajectory data at 38 US airports. The measurements are then used as inputs in a runway queuing model that estimates delay reduction related to changing the frequency of pilot-applied visual separation. It is likely the results and modeling techniques presented in this paper will be used by the FAA as part of future investment analyses to justify funds for automation changes needed to fully take advantage of certain ADS-B In applications.