Patent ID: 8515597

Claim:
A method for controlling airport traffic that includes both aircraft flying in RNP mode and aircraft not flying in RNP mode, the method being implemented by an air traffic control system including a processing device, the method comprising: routing, by the air traffic control system, a plurality of aircraft including routing a first aircraft flying in RNP mode from a waypoint to a downwind leg of a runway approach and routing a second aircraft not flying in RNP mode from the waypoint to the downwind leg of the runway approach; determining, by the air traffic control system, using sequencing and separation requirements, a first one of a fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points for the first aircraft to fly to, a second one of the fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points for the second aircraft to fly to, and an associated speed of approach for the second aircraft when the first aircraft and the second aircraft are moving from the downwind leg to a final approach leg; routing, by the air traffic control system, the first aircraft using the first determined RNP transition point and a speed of approach of the first aircraft so that the first aircraft can approach the runway and maintain separation and sequencing of the first aircraft relative to other aircraft of the plurality of aircraft approaching the runway; routing, by the air traffic control system, the second aircraft to the second determined RNP transition point for a turn to the runway approach; and monitoring, by the air traffic control system, the speed of approach and a direction of approach of the second aircraft to maintain separation and sequencing of the second aircraft relative to the other aircraft of the plurality of aircraft approaching the runway.