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| Picture: Coutsey of Eurocontrol |
The Irish Aviation Authority’s Point Merge airspace initiative which went live on 13th December 2012 has been shortlisted for the ‘Innovation in Action’ award by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport for the their 2013 Awards programme, in recognition of the cutting edge enhancements that have been introduced to streamline Dublin’s airspace.
IAA Director of ATM Operations and Strategy Peter Kearney said “Point Merge at Dublin is part of the IAAs continuing strategy to develop innovative new air traffic management solutions to provide a safe, efficient and cost effective services to our airline partners. We are delighted that the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport has shortlisted the IAA for the “Innovation in Action” Award 2013, in recognition of this world leading ATM development.The project is the result of over two years’ intensive research and development by a dedicated IAA project team in conjunction with Eurocontrol and supported by our civil and military partners in the UK-Ireland FAB”.
This award recognizes a transport initiative that has demonstrated true innovation and is presented to the team that can demonstrate a distinct new method to a challenging issue.
The IAA has met the challenge of improving air traffic management in Dublin’s airspace by introducing an innovative and environmentally friendly air traffic management system, known as Point Merge, which uses new air traffic management techniques to bring real benefits to our airline customers (reduction of fuel burn), reduced delays to passengers, and to the environment through reduced CO2 emissions.
Point Merge air traffic management techniques assist airlines in flying more environmentally friendly Continuous Descent Approaches (CDAs) to Dublin airport. CDAs permit the aircraft to reduce their fuel burn by an average of 120kg of fuel (approximately €84.00 at aviation fuel prices) and 360kg of CO2 per arrival, depending on the aircraft size.
Point Merge enables descent to the runway by placing arriving aircraft onto defined equidistant arcs or tracks, rather than using traditional holding stacks the system, thereby, both the overall track miles flown by the aircraft and associated CO2 emissions are reduced.
According to Eurocontrol since 13th December, thanks to the improved situational awareness resulting from Point Merge, 87% of arrivals on runway 28 have been afforded the most efficient descent trajectories possible, and a further period of performance measurement, review and, where necessary, refinement of the Point Merge procedures is now underway, before the IAA decides on plans to extend Point Merge to the other runways at Dublin.
A link below to video of Point merge at Oslo Airport Gardermoen.
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 25th February 2013 All Rights Reserved.
