APO procedure boosts air traffic movement and capacity, reduces delays and fuel consumption at Dubai airport

DUBAI, U.A.E., 25 Oct. 2016. Officials at Dubai Airports, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Air Navigation Services, and Emirates Group partnered to implement Approach Peak Offload (APO) operations, an innovative air traffic management (ATM) procedure that has increased air traffic movement and reduced delays at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

“Developing and implementing innovative procedures such as Approach Peak Offload (APO) have enabled us to deliver enhanced air traffic management services and accommodate the rising demand of our prestigious clientele with up to 86 percent during peak hours,” says H.E. Mohammed A. Ahli, director general of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans). “We have significantly invested our resources in thoroughly assessing the procedure from the 1st of March and until its implementation in live operations through fast time and real-time simulation exercises, this in turn has reinforced our efforts in building the safety case of the procedure which has been approved for implementation by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Dubai airport image courtesy Shutterstock.

“Under the guidance, sponsorship and leadership of HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, we are committed to and continuously striving to ‘Transform the Sky’ through developing and launching several key air traffic movements capacity enhancement projects in the Emirate of Dubai,” Ahli adds.

Exclusively designed and developed by the experienced operations team in dans, the APO procedure was created for the Dubai operational environment reflecting the most advanced solutions in the aviation community, officials say. The procedure is one of several solutions implemented by dans to drive further efficiency in the aviation sector, as it increases the volume of air traffic movement, while reducing possible delay timings for airlines.

Since its recent implementation, the APO procedure has reduced peak arrival delay for Dubai arrivals which resonates in the effective reduction of fuel consumption and cost savings for the airlines. This has also enabled dans to play a key role in enhancing the overall traffic flow efficiency while concurrently playing an active role in conserving the environment, as the implementation of this procedure enabled reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 447 tons on monthly basis.

The APO procedure is a concept that is based on the possible re-allocation of lighter wake producing category aircraft to Runway 30R during arrivals peak periods, accommodating the arrival flow more efficiently with the concurrent use of both runways at Dubai International Airport. One of the key components of this unique procedure permits lighter category aircraft to maintain a horizontal separation of 4.5NM behind the A380 Super aircraft while landing. Experts at dans reached the new wake separation minima levels between aircrafts based on the results of the safety case which included an in depth quantitative and qualitative wake data analysis.

Dubai Air Navigation services (dans) is the air navigation service provider (ANSP) that manages the Dubai and Northern Emirates airspace. Dans also provides air navigation services for airport authorities and numerous prestigious airlines, including the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passenger numbers: Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Search the Aerospace & Defense Buyer's Guide