Point Merge
The best way to illustrate Point Merge is to use these figures I found on the Avinor (Norwegian Aviation Authority) website. This is how the approach paths to Oslo airport (OSL) look like in a normal situation:
This is how the are supposed to look like with Point Merge in place:
I does look much better, and it makes me wonder why they haven’t done this all along. The idea is that the planes line up along a sequencing leg, where they at the right moment (to keep the aircraft separated) are told by air traffic control to turn into the path envelope, where they continue towards Point Merge, from where the final approach is flown. This way, so the system promises, aircraft not only make orderly directed turns towards the airport, but can also descend in a continuous manner towards the airport, not stepwise as was the case before, thus saving fuel, time and money.
Just-in-Time
Coming to think of it, is Point Merge really that revolutionary? Or is is just putting Just-in-Time to practice? Effectively, to me, that’s what it is.
Related links
- eurocontrol.int: Point Merge
- avinor.no: Point Merge (in Norwegian only, but nice graphics)
Related posts
- husdal.com: Happy Holidelays!
- husdal.com: A-maze-ing discoveries