TagFederal Aviation Administration(14)

The FAA's Airport Capacity Benchmark Report 2001 measures the maximum number of flights 31 of the nation's busiest airports can handle per hour under both good and adverse weather conditions. The benchmarks were developed between October 2000 and April 2001 by the FAA and MITRE/CAASD to help understand the relationship between airline demand and runway capacity, and to inform long-term aviation policy decisions. While useful as a reference point, the report notes that these benchmarks are starting points for discussion rather than definitive guides for major investment or scheduling decisions.

This August 1994 report, prepared by the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, presents technical data collected as part of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Capacity Enhancement Design Team Study. It is the sixth in a series of data packages examining airport capacity and delay simulation at Sea-Tac, with findings subject to revision as the design team's analysis continued. The document serves as an interim reference for planners and researchers studying runway and airspace capacity improvements at the airport.

This FAA Advisory Circular (AC 150/5060-5), issued September 23, 1983, provides procedures for computing airport capacity and aircraft delay for use in airport planning and design. It defines capacity as the maximum number of operations that can occur in an hour, and delay as the time difference between a constrained and unconstrained aircraft operation. The document updates and replaces earlier FAA capacity criteria circulars to reflect changes in the national aircraft fleet and improvements in air traffic control practices.