Revisiting the Point Merge Sequencing Technique

In this paper, we revisit Point Merge, an arrival sequencing technique we developed years ago and currently in operation at more than 50 airports worldwide. This work results from the two recurrent comments from our stakeholders and builds on the analysis of designs implemented in various places. Although still at an early stage, our motivation with this paper is to expose the work to the ATM community, to get feedback and generate interest from our stakeholders. We propose an evolution towards applicability to constrained terminal airspace and extension of continuous descent. No new technology is assumed. We develop designs and operating methods, integrated in an ATC prototyping tool for exposure and consolidation, and in a cockpit simulator for initial fuel burn assessment. No showstopper was identified and initial gains were measured. This evolution can provide a large path extension in a reduced envelope. It can also enable a partial independence of vertical profiles between each arrival flow while still providing the path extension of a single Point Merge. Ultimately, the goal would be to reach full independence of vertical profiles to generalize continuous descent under high traffic, subject to route spacing and navigation requirements. Overall, this evolution, while slightly more complex than a standard Point Merge, is expected to remain simple and intuitive for sequencing arrivals. However, new elements have been introduced that need to be validated with controllers and pilots. This work sets a new reference and opens-up new perspectives, unwrapping a whole family of alternate design options.