NASA Develops Technology To Prevent Flight Delays

NASA has developed a way to prevent flight delays using a new technology that safely increases the number of airplanes that can land on the same runway at busy airports by more precisely managing the time between each aircraft arrival. Less time in the air also means additional savings in expensive jet fuel and reduces aircraft emissions, and passengers would enjoy an increased chance their flights – connecting or otherwise – will arrive on time. Current air traffic control technology and procedures can predict arrival times to within a minute or so. The Flight Deck Interval Management (FIM) is expected to enable controllers and the airport to count on aircraft arriving within five to ten seconds of a predicted time. The cockpit-based prototype FIM system combines NASA developed software with commercially available hardware and connects the system to the aircraft’s onboard information and navigation systems. FIM allows controllers to deliver the aircraft more precisely and more predictably, which is a huge advantage that helps the airlines and airport operators more efficiently manage air traffic to minimize delays.