Optimized Profile Descent Arrivals at Los Angeles International Airport

The optimized profile descent is an example of one of the many NextGen technologies under development to modernize and increase the efficiency of the national airspace system. The first publicly charted optimized profile descent procedure was implemented at Los Angeles International Airport in Decem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aircraft 2013-03, Vol.50 (2), p.360-369
Main Authors: Clarke, J.-P, Brooks, J, Nagle, G, Scacchioli, A, White, W, Liu, S. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerospace engines
Air transportation and traffic
Aircraft
Aircraft fuels
Airport design
Airports
Applied sciences
Arrivals
Carbon dioxide
Descent
Exact sciences and technology
Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction
National Airspace System
Optimization
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Summary:The optimized profile descent is an example of one of the many NextGen technologies under development to modernize and increase the efficiency of the national airspace system. The first publicly charted optimized profile descent procedure was implemented at Los Angeles International Airport in December 2007. This new flight procedure was designed so that aircraft could conduct arrival and approach operations with the engines remaining at or near minimum idle power settings; thereby, saving an average of 25 gal of jet fuel per flight when compared to the various aircraft types conducting an arrival and approach along the same lateral path at Los Angeles International Airport. This optimized profile descent translates into annual reductions of approximately 2,000,000 gal of jet fuel and 41,000,000 lb of carbon dioxide emissions. Given the positive environmental benefits of an optimized profile descent, there are several projects underway to increase the use of environmentally friendly arrival procedures within the national airspace system. The aforementioned achievement at Los Angeles International Airport has motivated and enabled new optimized profile descent procedure designs for Atlanta, Miami, Charleston, and Phoenix.
ISSN:0021-8669
1533-3868
DOI:10.2514/1.C031529