Sept. 21, 2018
A new tool has been unveiled at McCarran International Airport (Las) to help business aviation operators significantly reduce potential departure delays when they take off from Las Vegas, NV.
Developed by the Las Vegas Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, the Departure Delay Mitigation Tool (DDMT) collects and presents departure demand information for an entire day in an easy-to-view format, allowing crews to decide whether to reschedule a departure for a lower-demand window. The tool is expected to be especially useful during the many high-traffic special events that Las Vegas hosts.
The Las Vegas Traffic Management Unit and airport officials have made the DDMT available on kiosks at Signature Flight Support and Atlantic Aviation. The kiosks went into service Sept. 10.
Heidi Williams, NBAA’s director for air traffic services and infrastructure, said the association supports the DDMT as an alternative to previously used tools like the FAA-managed Electronic Special Traffic Management Program, which was widely regarded as ineffective due to timing and compliance issues.
“With the DDMT, the Las Vegas TRACON has created what we believe will be a valuable tool for the business aviation community,” Williams said. “We appreciate that they are hearing and acting on the needs of our industry.”
David Pace, traffic management supervisor at the Las Vegas TRACON, said the DDMT is a product of collaboration.
“The Las Vegas Traffic Management Unit and McCarran Airport value the relationships that we share with NBAA, FBOs and our air carrier customers,” he said. “The DDMT program is just an extension of those relationships.”
The FAA plans to eventually make the DDMT available on a smartphone and tablet app, and potentially institute the program at other airports.
Learn more about DDMT. (PDF)
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.