01/13/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/13/2025 08:30
Pairwise separation, a solution developed within the framework of the SESAR Joint Undertaking by SESAR JU member NATS and other partners, has been deployed at Heathrow Airport, marking a world first in air traffic control. This innovation is designed to boost on-time performance and reduce carbon emissions.
The new system was implemented in December 2024 at NATS' Swanwick air traffic control centre. Early results suggest that pairwise separation will increase landing rates, reducing airborne holding and contributing to significant carbon savings over time.
As a major hub in the European aviation network, Heathrow's efficiency is vital not only for the UK but also for the smooth functioning of air traffic across the continent. NATS, which handles 24% of European air traffic, plays a critical role in ensuring the resilience and efficiency of the overall network.
Pairwise separation works by introducing a new method for calculating the minimum separation between arriving aircraft. While traditional separation is based on six categories considering aircraft weight and wake turbulence, Pairwise separation tailors the gap calculation to the specific characteristics of each individual aircraft type. This more granular approach allows air traffic controllers to safely reduce separation gaps for certain pairs of aircraft, increasing traffic flow.
Extensive research and validation work on pairwise separation were conducted by NATS and European partners as part of the SESAR 2020 research and innovation programme.
Kelly Stone, Head of Airport Operations at Heathrow, commented, "Deploying innovative technology like Pairwise separation at Heathrow makes a real difference to our operation's overall resilience. Passengers will benefit from an optimised landing process, ensuring aircraft hold for the shortest time possible, which directly supports our commitment to being a responsible neighbour to those living closest to Heathrow. NATS' ongoing commitment to continuous improvement is warmly welcomed, and it's fantastic to see the latest iteration of the Intelligent Approach tool land at Heathrow."
Chris Norsworthy, NATS Director of Airspace & Future Operations, added, "The introduction of Pairwise as part of Intelligent Approach is another world first and testament to our continuous efforts to improve the quality of service we provide to our airport and airline customers. Delivering additional operational resilience for Heathrow will make a real positive difference to airline punctuality, helping to improve the passenger experience and reduce carbon emissions."
Pairwise separation is part of the Intelligent Approach tool, initially deployed at Heathrow as a world first in 2015. This system uses dynamically calculated, time-based separation instead of static, distance-based gaps, which has already resulted in over 60% fewer headwind delays and a reduction of airborne holding by 230,000 minutes annually, saving over 45,000 tonnes of CO2. The introduction of pairwise will add to these environmental and operational benefits.