Simulation Analysis of Airport Parallel Runway Capacity under Different Operating Modes

Efficient ground operation of aircraft directly impacts airport's courses of energy conservation and green operation. The parallel runway system is the most popular configuration in airport multi-runway construction. Four types of representative parallel runways (space between 400m, 760m, 920m and 1525m) and corresponding operation modes were simulated by using Simmod. The Ultimate Capacity (UC) and Factual Operation Capacity (FOC) of parallel runways were analyzed taking consideration of runway crossing and non-runway crossing. The simulation result shows that in instrument flight rule, the FOC of widely spaced parallel runways is about 74 sorties per hour, the FOC of medially spaced parallel runways is about 65 sorties per hour, and that of closely spaced parallel runways is about 50 sorties per hour. In condition of non-runway crossing, the capacity of parallel runway system can be increased by 13%.