Significance of the reduced piste grading
Runway separation regulates the distances between aircraft using the same runway. Reduced separation allows subsequent aircraft to take off or land more quickly, provided this is possible in terms of aviation safety. This type of regulation is particularly important at busy airports, as it helps to optimise capacity utilisation and reduce delays.
Classification of aircraft
DFS distinguishes between three categories of aircraft for the application of the reduced runway separation:
- Category 1 includes single-engine propeller aircraft with a maximum authorised take-off mass (MTOM) of up to 2,000 kg.
- Category 2 comprises single-engine propeller aircraft with an MTOM of over 2,000 kg but less than 7,000 kg, and twin-engine propeller aircraft with an MTOM of less than 7,000 kg.
- Category 3 includes all other aircraft, including large passenger and cargo aircraft.
Prerequisites for the application of the reduced scale
The reduced slope grading regulation may only be applied if certain conditions are met. These include in particular
- Visibility on the ground must be at least 5 kilometres and the main cloud base must not be below 1,000 feet.
- The tailwind component must not exceed 5 knots.
- A minimum staggering due to wake turbulence must still be observed.
- DFS uses either landmarks or a ground surveillance system to precisely determine the position of the aircraft.
- The following aircraft receives traffic information about the aircraft in front.
- The piste surface must not be affected by deposits such as snow, ice, slush or water.
- If a slope condition report is available in Global Reporting Format (GRF), the reduced graduation may only be applied if the reported slope condition codes are 5 or 6, which means a sufficiently grippy slope.
Minimum distances between aircraft during landings
The following separation distances apply to arriving aircraft landing on the same runway:
- A category 1 aircraft may cross the runway threshold if the preceding category 1 or 2 aircraft has already landed and passed a point at least 600 metres behind the threshold. Alternatively, the following aircraft may cross the threshold if the preceding aircraft has taken off and is at least 600 metres from the threshold.
- A category 2 aircraft may cross the runway threshold if the preceding category 1 or 2 aircraft has landed and passed at least 1,500 metres behind the threshold or has already taken off and reached this distance from the threshold.
- An aircraft, regardless of its category, may cross the runway threshold if the Category 3 aircraft in front has either passed at least 2,400 metres behind the threshold or has taken off and reached this distance.
Minimum distances between aircraft during take-offs
The following minimum distances apply for the take-off of consecutive aircraft:
- A category 1 aircraft may take off if the previously launched category 1 or 2 aircraft has already taken off and is at least 600 metres from the take-off position in the air.
- A category 2 aircraft may take off if the previously launched category 1 or 2 aircraft has already taken off and is at least 1,500 metres away from the take-off position.
- An aircraft, regardless of its category, may take off if the category 3 aircraft that took off previously has already taken off and is at least 2,400 metres from the take-off position.
Airports with application of reduced runway staggering
The new regulation will be applied at several international airports in Germany, including:
- Berlin-Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Dresden
- Düsseldorf
- Frankfurt Main
- Hamburg
- Hanover
- Cologne/Bonn
- Leipzig/Halle
- Munich
- Münster/Osnabrück
- Nuremberg
- Saarbrücken
- Stuttgart
At these airports, the reduced graduation is applied to certain runways, although there are specific restrictions in individual cases. For example, use on some runways is only permitted during the day or only for certain aircraft categories.
Advantages of the new regulation
The introduction of reduced runway staggering offers several advantages for German air traffic:
- Airports can handle more aircraft movements per hour, which leads to better utilisation of the infrastructure.
- Private and regional passengers benefit from shorter waiting times and optimised slot allocation.
- Delays can be reduced, especially at busy airports.
- The optimisation of air traffic contributes to better overall planning and more efficient processes.
Safety remains the top priority
Despite the reduction in separation distances, safety remains the top priority. DFS ensures that no critical risks arise by continuing to adhere to minimum separation distances due to wake turbulence and only using the aircraft under optimal conditions.
The reduced runway staggering is an important step towards increasing efficiency in German air traffic and shows how capacities can be better utilised through more precise processes without jeopardising safety.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)
