It assumes prediction capabilities, expected to be provided by existing flow and arrival management tools. A case study on the Dublin Point Merge with an A320 cockpit simulator suggests gains up to 24 kg fuel burn. The purpose of this note is to get feedback and trigger interest, in view of validation for a short-term implementation.
Point Merge is a systemised method for sequencing arrival flows developed by the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub (formerly Experimental Centre) in 2006. Point Merge is intended to be used primarily for arrival sequencing toward the runway(s), after reduction of arrival congestion through current flow and arrival management at larger horizons. Starting with Oslo (2011) and Dublin (2012), Point Merge spread worldwide and is now operational for 61 airports through 23 countries and 4 continents, such as Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Bogota, São Paulo, Mexico, Guanghzhu, Shenzen, Lisbon. Point Merge is one of the ICAO aviation system block upgrades (ASBU) and is referenced as a technique to support continuous descent operations (ICAO Doc 9931).