Intelligent Approach

Intelligent Approach

Optimise runway capacity through smarter approach spacing.

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The world’s only true time-based separation tool

Developed by NATS in partnership with Leidos UK, Intelligent Approach optimises aircraft spacing to increase your runway capacity and make the flow of arrivals smoother and more predictable. As well as minimising disruption and boosting on-time performance, it reduces CO2 emissions, and unlocks extra revenue.

As a modular, customisable solution, Intelligent Approach can be tailored to suit your airport’s unique needs. It integrates into existing ATC systems, incorporating live wind data and optimised wake spacing rules, and gives controllers a visual indication of required separation distances.​

The world’s only true time-based separation tool

Highlights

Time-based separation

Achieve the highest landing rate of any approach spacing tool by using time-based separation that adapts dynamically to wind conditions. It restores headwind capacity, improves safety and consistency, and typically enables 2–4 extra landings per hour.

Mixed-mode efficiency

Optimise single or dual-runway operations for both arrivals and departures. Integrated live wind data maintains consistent spacing in high winds, adding 2–3 landings per hour and supporting smoother, more predictable traffic flow.

Pairwise separation

Use wake vortex separation individually tailored to each aircraft pair – instead of broad weight categories – to achieve optimum safe spacing with typical capacity gains of 2 landings per hour.

Curved approach (in development)

Manage arrivals beyond the runway centre line, sequencing aircraft across multiple RNP and ILS approaches. Enable precise lateral and vertical trajectories for greater airspace flexibility and efficiency.

Seamless integration

Integrates easily with your existing ATC systems, including Indra’s ManagAir, and requires minimal training and operational change – ensuring a fast, low-risk implementation.

Proven operational results

Delivers measurable gains in capacity, resilience, and environmental performance – increasing on-time arrivals, reducing fuel burn, and supporting airport growth without additional infrastructure costs.

Keeping Heathrow moving in all conditions

At London Heathrow Airport, Intelligent Approach has boosted capacity by up to two landings per hour, while cutting delays, emissions, and costs.
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Keeping Heathrow moving in all conditions

Boosting tactical capacity at Schiphol

At Amsterdam Schiphol, Intelligent Approach increased runway throughput by 10-15% in high winds, while reducing noise impact and improving on-time performance.
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Boosting tactical capacity at Schiphol

Increasing Toronto’s resilience remotely

At Toronto Pearson, Intelligent Approach was deployed remotely – improving spacing efficiency and adding up to three extra arrivals per hour, even in challenging conditions.
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Increasing Toronto’s resilience remotely

Intelligent Approach Brochure

PDF 3.82 MB
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Introduction

Introduction
Modules and benefits

Modules and benefits
Curved Approach

Curved Approach
Case study - Benefits - Heathrow, Toronto & Schiphol

Case study - Benefits - Heathrow, Toronto & Schiphol
IA User Group

IA User Group
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Saudi Air Navigation Services to adopt Intelligent Approach system at Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah airports

Saudi Air Navigation Services to adopt Intelligent Approach system at Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah airports

Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS), the Kingdom’s air navigation service provider, is set to deploy the Intelligent Approach system at Riyadh, Jeddah, and Madinah airports following a significant contract with its UK counterpart, NATS, in collaboration with technology providers Leidos and Indra.

14 May 2025
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World-first aircraft separation system at Gatwick to cut carbon emissions and boost on time performance

World-first aircraft separation system at Gatwick to cut carbon emissions and boost on time performance

A new way of separating aircraft arriving into Gatwick Airport is set to cut carbon emissions by between 11,000 and 19,000 tonnes a year – and minimise delays - according to the air traffic management service, NATS.

26 Mar 2025
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Deploying Pairwise Separation at Heathrow Airport – From an Engineer's Perspective

Deploying Pairwise Separation at Heathrow Airport – From an Engineer's Perspective

Following the deployment of Pairwise Separation at Heathrow Airport in December, I sat with John Eden, Service Technical Expert for Traffic Synchronisation, and a key member of the project team, to discuss the intricacies involved, the challenges encountered, and how they were successfully overcome.

30 Jan 2025
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Intelligent Approach Customer Summit showcases product updates and new features

Intelligent Approach Customer Summit showcases product updates and new features

This week saw our third annual Intelligent Approach Customer Summit, with representatives from NAV CANADA and LVNL – as well as from ANSPs in Europe and the Middle East – joining us in our UK head office.

17 Oct 2024
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An Intelligent Approach to improving the passenger experience

An Intelligent Approach to improving the passenger experience

By dynamically calculating the spacing between aircraft based on real-time local conditions rather than relying on set distances, Intelligent Approach helps airports to maximise the capacity of their runways and optimise the flow of aircraft into the airport, thereby improving on-time performance.

5 Jun 2024
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Intelligent Approach now fully incorporated in Indra ATM Systems to increase capacity at high traffic volume airports

Intelligent Approach now fully incorporated in Indra ATM Systems to increase capacity at high traffic volume airports

19 Mar 2024
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“The smoothest transition of my career”: Intelligent Approach goes Dutch at Schiphol

“The smoothest transition of my career”: Intelligent Approach goes Dutch at Schiphol

Capacity for aircraft landing at Schiphol Airport during high wind conditions has increased by 3 – 6 additional aircraft per hour, per runway thanks to Intelligent Approach.

6 Jun 2023
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Delivering Intelligent Approach for Toronto during a global pandemic

Delivering Intelligent Approach for Toronto during a global pandemic

Back in 2019, we announced that we were working in partnership with Leidos and Canadian air traffic service provider, NAV CANADA, to deliver our Intelligent Approach tool for Toronto Pearson International Airport. But delivering a big project like this is never entirely straightforward and doing it during a global pandemic is even less so.

2 Aug 2022
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An Intelligent Approach to delivering future airport growth in uncertain times

An Intelligent Approach to delivering future airport growth in uncertain times

I’m finding in conversations with airport operations directors around the world, is that they’re looking at ways to enable future growth, but in a way that reflects our current reality.

14 Dec 2021
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