Airport Capacity

Airport Capacity is defined as the number of aircraft movements which an aircraft can process within a specified period of time, with an average delay to the departing aircraft within the acceptable time limit.

Each aircraft makes two movement i.e. landing and takes off.

Airport Capacity will include:

• Aircraft movements
• Terminal Capacity
• Apron capacity
• Runway Capacity
• Taxiway Capacity
• Gate Capacity etc.

Factors affecting Airport Capacity:

• Runway configurations and the connected taxiways.
• Aircraft characteristics and their arrival to departure ratio.
• Weather conditions.
• Terrain and man made obstruction.
• Loading apron space.
• Navigational aids
• Aircraft processing techniques.

Runway Capacity:

Runway Capacity is defined as the ability of a runway system to accommodate aircraft landings and take-offs. 

It is expressed in operations per unit time, i.e. operations per hour or operations per year.

Reasonably acceptable delay level depends on the aircraft mix for precise estimates of capacity.

Measures of Runway Capacity:

• Maximum throughput Capacity (Saturation capacity)
• Practical hourly Capacity
• Sustained Capacity
• Declared Capacity

Saturation capacity-It is defined as the expected number of movements that can be performed in one hour on a runway system without violating ATM (Air Traffic Management) rules, assuming continuous aircraft demand.

Practical hourly Capacity-It is defined as the expected number of movements that can be performed in 1hr. On a runway system with an average delay per movement of 4 min.

As a rule of thumb, the PHCAP of a runway system is approximately equal to 80-90 percent of its maximum throughput capacity, depending on the specific conditions at hand.

Sustained Capacity-It is measured as the number of movements per hour than can be reasonably sustained over a period of several hours.

The rationale is that, to achieve maximum throughput capacity, the ATM system should work to its full potential all the time. however, operations at such a level of full efficiency an maximum performance often cannot be sustained in practice for periods of more than one or two consecutive hours. 

Factors affecting Runway Capacity:

• Air Traffic Control/runway use/VFR
• Characteristics of demand/ Traffic Mix
• Environmental Factors 
• Arrival & Departure separation standard
• Layout and design of the runway system
• Wind Direction etc.

Taxiway Capacity:

The overall capacity of the taxiway system can be determined, in theory, by the number of aircraft per hour that the taxiway system can deliver from the apron areas to the runway system and vice-versa.

Capacity of the taxiway system of major airports almost always exceed the capacity of the runway system and does not constitute a significant constraint on runway capacity.

Apron Capacity:

Aprons consist of areas reserved for remote and contact aircrafts stands and for the taxi lines that transverse these areas. 

A good indication about the available apron capacity is given by number of stands at hand. This is sometimes referred to as the static capacity of the apron, because it indicates the maximum number of aircraft that can be occupying simultaneous the apron at any given instant.

Gate Capacity:

The gate is generally the term used for aircraft parking space, adjacent to the terminal and this is generally used for the purpose of loading and unloading of passengers, baggage,mail and cargo.

On the other hand as the name suggests the gate capacity is simply the capacity of the gate. It is the ability of a specified number of gates to accommodate aircraft loading and unloading operations under conditions of continuous demand. 

Gate Occupy Time depending on the following Factors:

• The type of aircraft.
• Whether the flight is an originating, turn around, or through flight.
• The number of deplaning and enplaning passengers.
• The amount of baggage and mail.
• The efficiency of apron personnel.
• Whether each gate is available to all users or is allocated for exclusive use of one airline or class of aircraft.

Terminal Capacity:

The passenger building is the major connection between airport access and the aircraft. The purpose of the passenger building is to

Interface with the passenger’ mode of aircraft access.

Process departing and arriving passengers.

Convey the passengers to and from the aircraft.

Nature of Loads:

• Arriving passengers, terminating their travel at the airport.
• Transfer passengers going on to other flights.
• Originating passengers starting their trip at the airport and needing check-in facilities.
• Departing passengers who will need waiting areas.
• International and domestic passengers.
• Passengers on charter or “cheap fare” airlines who will use special facilities.
• Shuttle or commuter passengers needing minimal check-in lounge, and baggage facilities.

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Maani Sharma [ MBA Aviation ]
Manager Aviation NEWS Project

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