1. Do any of our ATC get to a chance to do US exchange work? Watching ATC at a busy US hub is where we could learn some lessons about getting people on and off runways (single, multiple and crossing) quickly.
2. Also, a system of RNAV arrivals that seems to work well particularly in EU is the system that resembles the security queue - having an s pattern arrival flow with strict speed control on each leg and constant descent paths. It doesn't use much more fuel, and gets maximum landing rates close in where short range spacing control is easier.
When traffic is light or if spacing needs to be decreased corners can be cut to get minimum spacing/maximum landing rates (like raising the tape in the outside barriers of the security queue).
If spacing needs to be increased extending any of the legs is also easy.
Being back at min speed for an hour and a half from the FIR boundary to meet an arrival crossing time and then being narked at for being 2 minutes out because of a massive descent wind gradient change is not satisfying for anyone.
Why not have a rough crossing time filter or a medium level hold a bit further out and then into the arrival queue.
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7
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Last edited by ramble on; 12th Jul 2012 at 00:06.