Interface of VTOL, STOL, and CTOL Traffic in Busy Terminal Areas

Airport congestion, combined with the rapid and continuing growth of corridor air traffic, has spurred the development of potentially viable VTOL and STOL systems. As these systems grow, they will introduce new close-in airports in metropolitan areas, as well as increase the efficiency of existing airports for medium and long haul transportation.

New and more efficient methods of utilizing the terminal airspace must be developed to control the mix of conventional and V/STOL aircraft to minimize traffic delays, and to support in every way the maintenance of a safe, fast, reliable all-weather intercity air transport system. This paper treats methods of interfacing CTOL and V/STOL terminal traffic to achieve these objectives.