Single Runway Research Articles

Prefeeding and the apparent frustration effect

In a series of three experiments, running speed in a single runway was found to increase following the omission of prefeeding when this was preceded by consistent prefeeding (Apparent Frustration Effect). A similar increase was also found in Ss which had not been previously prefed. It is suggested that the increased running speed of the previously nonprefed Ss resulted from either rapid generalization of reward expectation from the goalbox or simply from a change in stimulus conditions.

Analytical methods of research into terminal area air traffic operations

The application of mathematical models of various suboperations in the terminal area, and the use of fast time simulation on a digital computer to study the operation of a complete terminal area traffic control system, are briefly demonstrated. Mathematical models are used to analyze the capacity of race track holding patterns, the laddering operation, and the instrument landing system (ILS) funnel with time separations at the gate. The results of a fast time simulation on an IBM 7094, for an advanced method of providing sequencing and spacing for a single ILS runway are given. The landing system demonstrates a capacity of 32 landings/hr, along with runway availability for 20 takeoffs.

The Landing Capacity of a Runway

An expression is developed for the landing capacity (or service rate) of a single runway in which aircraft are restricted by a minimum space separation at the beginning of a common approach glide path and by a minimum time separation at the runway. The conditions at any terminal may be inserted to determine its characteristic landing capacity. Single runways at the New York area terminals are shown to have landing capacities of 30–40 landings per hour. It is shown that the greatest improvement in the present landing rate can be achieved by reducing the separation at the beginning of the common path, and that little is gained by reducing only the time separation at the runway.