Intelligent Approach

The world’s only true time-based approach spacing tool

The solution

Optimising approach spacing

Intelligent Approach, the world’s only true time-based separation tool, optimises aircraft spacing to improve operational resilience, deliver better on-time performance, reduce CO2 emissions, and increase revenue.

As a modular solution, Intelligent Approach can be tailored to suit an airport’s unique needs. It integrates into existing ATC systems, incorporating live wind data and optimised wake spacing rules, to provide controllers with a visual indication of required separation distances.​

Find out more by downloading our brochure, or contact us to find out how Intelligent Approach can benefit your operation.

Download our brochure here

Intelligent Approach - Designed to optimise approach spacing​

Modules

Intelligent Approach features a family of modules that airports can tailor to suit their unique challenges and needs.

Modules can be integrated into existing operations and Air Traffic Management Systems, including Indra’s ManagAir, without the need for airport infrastructure changes.

The air traffic control expertise of NATS combined with the technology expertise of Leidos has created the ultimate approach spacing tool.

Time Based Separation

Separate aircraft by time, not nautical miles.

Dynamic adjustment of spacing for all wind conditions recovers capacity lost to headwinds and improves operational consistency and safety performance. Airports benefit from enhanced capacity, an ability to deliver more aircraft, or better deal with peaks in demand.​

Provides typical capacity gains of 2-4 landings per hour.​

Mixed Mode Operations

Maximise mixed mode runway arrivals and departures, including single runway airports, with an option to integrate live wind data to maintain consistent spacing in high winds.

Provides typical capacity gains of 2-3 landings per hour.​

Pairwise

Separate aircraft using enhanced wake vortex categories individually tailored for each pair of aircraft.

Instead of using a wake scheme based on weight and wingspan, Pairwise uses wake vortex separation individually tailored for each pair of aircraft, providing optimum safe separation distances.​

Provides typical capacity gains of 2 landings per hour.

Curved Approach

Currently under development, Curved Approach manages arrivals beyond the runway centre line.

Curved Approach enables efficient sequencing of aircraft on multiple RNP approaches as well as those using the ILS. RNP routes allow aircraft to fly precisely defined lateral and vertical trajectories.

Intelligent Approach for Mixed Mode Operations

Intelligent Approach helps air traffic controllers more efficiently manage the gaps between arriving and departing aircraft.  It provides air traffic controllers with markers on their radar screens, helping them precisely position each arrival to create the most efficient sequence of traffic, increase capacity and reducing fuel burn and emissions. 

The system is now optimised for Mixed Mode Operations. Watch our video to find out more.

Intelligent Curved Approach – Under development

Intelligent Approach’s signature approach sequencing markers are under development for managing aircraft on curved and multiple RNP approaches. This will enable an airport to increase use of RNP procedures, optimise runway capacity, save on fuel and reduce noise for local communities.

Benefits

Intelligent Approach can deliver the following key benefits to an airport operation:

Capacity

Enables choice in how to exploit existing runway and airspace infrastructure whilst increasing the available tactical capacity.

Environment

Reduced fuel burn and emissions through improved predictability and reduced airborne holding.

Resilience

Increased on-time performance meaning reduced delays, reduced costs, and happier passengers.

Revenue

Increased revenue by enabling additional capacity.

Airport growth

Supports airport growth plans at a fraction of the cost of major capital investment.

Case study

Deploying Intelligent Approach into Heathrow Airport

Intelligent Approach has been in continuous operation at Heathrow since March 2015. Benefits already achieved include an average tactical capacity gain of 2 aircraft landings per hour in all wind conditions, an improvement of 1.5-2.5% in airport punctuality and an average saving of over 1,410 seconds per day in arrival separation on final approach.

A HEATHROW CASE STUDY

Case study

Deploying Intelligent Approach at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Capacity for aircraft landing at Schiphol Airport during high wind conditions has increased by 3 - 6 additional aircraft per hour, per runway. That’s an enormous benefit that’s going to make a real difference in terms of on-time performance and the noise impact for local residents, and it’s been achieved without the need for any new equipment or infrastructure at the airport itself.

Partner

Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health.

The company's global workforce of 47,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.

For more information, visit www.leidos.com.

Leidos HQ

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