Traffic Management Coordinator - Essay Example

However, runway selection is not always most closely aligned with the wind.  Around New York, there are six airfields in the tight configuration: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro, Westchester, and Islip(MacArthur).  When deciding other factors to choose a runway configuration, a TMC must consider noise abatement and comparative traffic density. Traffic is another imperative consideration. Some runways may be able to handle more traffic than others, and some are pre-assigned to certain carriers. Priorities are assigned by the TCM in order to optimize resources based on a number of sometimes competing factors.

Relative traffic is a huge factor. The relative positions of runways are a major concern. For example, intersecting runways involve more complex solutions than parallel.  Parallel runways are often said to be independent – meaning takeoffs and landings can occur simultaneously, but intersecting runways are not so. They require individual take-offs and landings. This factor constitutes a major limit in traffic assignment. Traffic Management Coordinators determine the runway configuration.

One factor is wind direction and speed, but sometimes the selection is not most closely related to wind. When deciding over factors to choose a runway configuration, one must not only consider air and ground traffic but also the comparative traffic flow of the runways, the direction of the flight plans in question, and the location of the runway relative to the terminal. Using this or some similar logical sorting method, an air-based company could develop simple software that would help narrow choices based on specific such criteria.

In any circumstance, the safety of the passengers, crew, and aircraft is tantamount to any air traffic-related decision.