Airspace ‘layers’ cut flight delays

Date: 19/09/02

By Karen Carstens

DESPITE a 2 average drop in worldwide air travel since 11 September last year, flight delays have fallen in the same time period by 40, according to a study conducted by Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation.

Its findings showed that on 31 August last year, 27,881 flights were recorded with a total delay of 133,066 minutes - 4.77 minutes per flight.

On 31 August 2002, the peak day so far this year, there were 27,796 flights and a total of 61,422 minutes of delay, just 2.21 minutes of delay per flight.

'There is a very slight difference in the traffic figures and yet the delay is substantially less. This fact proves conclusively that the efforts being made to generate more airspace capacity in Europe are paying off,' Víctor Aguado, Eurocontrol's general director, said.

One explanation for this is the launch of a new measure called 'reduced vertical separation minima' that has helped to streamline air traffic flows. 'It revolutionized air traffic management because it introduced six new levels,' a Eurocontrol expert explained, referring to a reduction in the amount of airspace - separation minima -- allowed between aircraft in the sky, from 2,000 to 1,000 feet, or about 300 metres.

Besides helping to cut down on delays, the system has increased airspace capacity and brought about environmental benefits through lower fuel emissions. The new system, which 41 countries have signed up to, is monitored by Eurocontrol as part of its goal of creating a pan-European air traffic management system.

Despite a 2% average drop in worldwide air travel since 11 September 2001, flight delays have fallen in the same time period by 40%, according to a study conducted by Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation.