Metroplex

Implement Metroplex Solutions in the NAS

The growth in terminal area traffic demand is expected to increase the occurrence and severity of coupling between operations at proximate airports. Therefore, it is necessary to develop solutions that provide efficient coordination of operations between closely-spaced airports. The FAA’s efforts to increase arrivals and departures at high density airports while increasing the flexibility in the terminal environment around multiple airports in congested metropolitan areas is a focus area Metron Aviation has been researching both internally and through National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR). Teamed with respected industry and university research organizations, Metron Aviation continues to explore new technologies and concepts aimed at meeting NextGen objectives. Recent Metron Aviation research contributing to the advancement of Metroplex operations includes the development of Traffic Flow Management (TFM) and surface Decision Support Tools (DST), along with integration with the airlines to facilitate the broad collaboration necessary to implement Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures.

The application of Super Dense Operations (SDO) enables longer-term Metroplex improvements.

As a pioneer member of the Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) community, Metron Aviation has worked in close cooperation with stakeholders to design and develop innovative operational capabilities, and associated procedures, which have yielded quantifiable benefits to the National Airspace System (NAS). We have worked with design teams on the NY/NJ/PHL Redesign Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) project to develop alternative routes to the airspace that addressed several of the capabilities identified in the FAA’s NGIP, such as Area Navigation (RNAV) / Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedure development.