Visualization of decision-making for approach direction selection by wind focusing on low traffic airports

Abstract

When the wind direction at an arrival airport changes, the approach direction to the runway is adjusted to ensure that the aircraft encounters a headwind. To determine the threshold wind conditions for landing, this study focused on low-traffic airports, where pilots have flexibility in choosing the approach direction, allowing for the selection of the optimal route. The analysis revealed that for airports with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the short path side, the approach direction changed at a threshold tailwind component of approximately 7 kt, regardless of whether the preferential runway system was applied or not. It also revealed that for airports with an ILS on the long path side, the ILS-equipped side was selected when the crosswind component was large. Regarding the preferential runway system, when the tailwind component exceeded the 5-kt restriction release threshold, the shorter arrival route began to be selected.