Assessing the Benefits of NextGen Performance-Based Navigation

Abstract

Two key components of the Next Generation Air Transportation System are Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and the Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM). PBN leverages state-of-the-art navigation technologies such as Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP). OAPM implements PBN procedures and airspace changes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking to quantify the benefits of PBN. To support this effort, we investigated the throughput impact of PBN to mitigate numerous metroplex inefficiencies. PBN capabilities included RNAV Standard Instrument Departure (SID) and Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) procedures. We developed queuing system models of the baseline SIDs or STARs capturing the inefficiencies and the RNAV SIDs or STARs mitigating the inefficiencies. We evaluated the models in simulations. Results show that RNAV SIDs and STARs demonstrated significant throughput increases over baseline SIDs and STARs, particularly at high traffic levels. This paper describes the modeling assumptions, methods, and results.