Most Aviation Delays are Preventable
“Day of”, Real Time, Aircraft Landing Time Management
Root Cause of Aviation Delays, Congestion and Excess CO2
As you can see in the video above, I have the unique perspective that most airline/aviation delays, congestion and excess CO2 are easily preventable, just not by ATC.
Fortunately, we also have the system based, business focused “day of” operational solution for this problem that has been independently validated, in actual airline operations, by FAA, Embry-Riddle, GE Aviation and others to prevent these problems.
Preventing most aviation delays, congestion and excess CO2, while much easier than most would believe, must first start by identifying the true root cause of the problem, something airlines/operators have yet to accomplish.
As a 40-year pilot (USAF, United B400 Captain, retired), with decades of expertise in airline operations and ATC, it is clear that what we are doing to mitigate airline delays, congestion and excess CO2, is not working. For over 4 decades of effort and $100s of Billions, governments have tried to solve this problem, and failed. Not only does this cost individual airlines Billions annually, but it unnecessarily reduces quality and safety while increasing CO2 emissions.
Conversely, there is a path forward that has the ability to reshape the airline/aviation sector by rapidly and inexpensively fixing the airline industry’s “day of” operational problem, starting by putting the passenger where promised, when promised 24/7-365, at a much higher level.
But, as I said, the first step in fixing any problem is properly defining the root cause, ala W. Edwards Deming. What was true 40 years ago is typically no longer valid today.
In aviation, today’s truth is that the root cause of most airline delays is the highly variable, yet predictable and easily preventable, “day of” point overloads of our aviation assets (airports, runways, airspace, ramp, gates, ATC, etc.), which can only be efficiently managed internally by each individual airline/operator, and only during the “day of“.
Not by ATC, not by FAA/Eurocontrol, not by adjusting schedules, not by a capacity limitations, not by a focus on D0, not by airports and not by labor. Only the individual airline can expertly prevent delays by internally rebuilding their “day of” production line, day in and day out, 24/7-365, starting with the real time management of the movement of their aircraft. Who lands first, second, third, etc. is crucial to the success and efficiency of the individual airline/operator’s “day of” operation, yet is unnecessarily left to random chance.
Everything is in place to accomplish this. All that is needed is the aviation leadership to embrace a significant “day of” operational upgrade.
Of course, weather, capacity, schedules, ATC, etc., impact delays, but these are not the root cause of delays, but are second and third level issues that exacerbate the highly variant point overloads.
Finally, I don’t understand the airline industry’s willingness to unnecessarily cede “day of” control of the movement of their aircraft to ATC. This is a huge mistake that costs individual large airlines $5 Billion annually (analysis on request), while increasing CO2 emissions and reducing quality and safety.