Claim: Time based separation, now a part of the SESAR Deployment Programme, was not able to make any reductions in arrival delays due to headwinds, after being successfully implemented at Heathrow to address headwind disruptions by reducing the spacing between pairs of aircraft.
Evidence: Time Based Separation was successfully implemented at Heathrow by NATS and Leidos working in conjunction with Heathrow Airport on 24 March 2015 and has been in continuous operation since then. In March 2018 it was further enhanced to include Optimised Runway Delivery (ORD), Runway Occupancy Time and RECAT EU Wake categories. Results have been very successful with a c.62% reduction in arrival delays due to headwinds and a marked improvement in overall airport punctuality.