Up to date on the method of receiving speed assignments within the U.S.? A new measure has been introduced that is changing the way pilots receive this information…
Since the end of August, pilots been hearing some new terminology while receiving arrival procedures into airports within the United States. Pilots can now expect speed assignments in 5-kt increments instead of what has been the standard 10-kt assignment. Above FL240, these assignments may be given in Mach 0.01 increments for turbojet aircraft with Mach meters. This is all a part of the United States’ move toward the NextGen airspace redesign that is in progress.
Although it may seem very unusual to hear a speed assignment of 195-kts, this is all part of an effort to move from a distance-based separation (miles-in-trail) to a time-based separation, or metering of aircraft. This is a part of the overall move to a more performance-based navigation (PBN) system. Rich Boll, chairman of the ATC, Airspace and Flight Technologies Working Group of the NBAA Access Committee, has commented on this. According to him, as the FAA move toward greater use of performance-based navigation processes, this is a tool that can precisely align the time an aircraft passes over a certain fix, and allows controllers to better tie STAR procedures into the approach to final.
Before this new procedure was in place, the pilot would begin getting vectors as much as five to ten miles (8 to 16 km) out before they were turned into the final approach to keep the distance separations in place from other landing traffic. However, with the ability to do a more time-based separation, a more direct routing can be given to the airport. Even though the pilot may begin slowing down at points further away from the airport, with the more direct routing, the overall timing into the airport will be improved, which will create more on-time arrivals for all aircraft.
Currently, these changes don’t apply to arrivals. However, shortly, this will expand and become a part of the arrival procedures even further out from the airport as the NextGen initiative expands throughout the airspace. Even further in the future, these new assignments will likely be given on departure procedures as well.
The NextGen airspace redesign is happening in stages and will take up to the year 2025 to complete. This is just one of the many stages to help get the U.S. airspace transformed from a radar-based system to one that is controlled by satellites and GPS technology. Overall, this will help all operators within the airspace save time and fuel, which ultimately saves money for everyone involved. This improved airspace will also be better for the controllers, who will ultimately be manning a much busier, but more organized airspace.
The current 5-kt speed assignment was issued by a notice to the controllers from the FAA in FAA Order JO 7110.65, paragraph 5-7-1, Speed Adjustments, and can also be found in Section 4-4-12 of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
Flight Operations to Cancun Mexico: Planning a trip to sunny Cancun anytime soon? Here's exactly what you need to know. MRO Latin America 2017 takes place this January 25-26 in the tropical paradise of Cancun, Mexico. The event will see…
COVID-19 Government Support for US General Aviation: An economic stimulus package worth 2 trillion USD has been approved by the US government in response to the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES…
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport Operations Update: Here are details of the current COVID-19-related restrictions in place at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (LFMN). Immigration As per the NOTAM published on July 29, passengers and crew flying in flights which provenance is any…
UAS Operations | - 08/10/2020
Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
Contact UAS China Team
Become a UAS Fuel Partner today!
Want to become a UAS Fuel Partner? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!