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Title:

Impact of Weather Factors on Go-Around Frequency

Accession Number:

01622491

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

A missed approach, or go-around occurs when an aircraft on final approach aborts its landing due to unsatisfactory conditions. Go-arounds have a significant impact on airport capacity and may pose serious concern at large airports, especially those with diagonal runways. Many factors (e.g. manual errors, mechanical faults and weather) may impact the likelihood of go-around occurrence. This study develops a strategy for identifying go-arounds using historical Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) data and examining the impact of different weather factors on go-around frequency. This study investigates the influence changes in wind gust speed, precipitation events (i.e. thunderstorm, rain and snow, or clear) and visibility have on an observed go-around rate. The authors create a factorial experimental design and select a one day sample for each factor combination; this design categorizes and selects an 18 day sample for further analysis. After cleaning the raw data and extracting the arrival aircraft data, the authors use Google Earth Pro software to determine the total number of go-arounds for the sample. For each of the aforementioned weather factors, the study compares the go-around rates when the factor levels change using the two proportion Z test. These tests indicate that a high wind gust speed (>29 mph) and thunderstorm events have a significantly greater go-around rate. Degraded visibility may not significantly impact go-around occurrence; however, this requires further investigation. Finally, the study estimates an aggregate regression model to estimate go-around risk based on weather conditions. These results may influence airport operating decision-making.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AV060 Standing Committee on Airfield and Airspace Capacity and Delay.

Monograph Accession #:

01618707

Report/Paper Numbers:

17-03934

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Donavalli, Bharath
Mattingly, Stephen P
Massidda, Antonio

Pagination:

15p

Publication Date:

2017

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Subject Areas:

Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2017 Paper #17-03934

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Dec 8 2016 11:30AM