CDA

Continuous Descent Approach

Current European Examples and Issues

EUROCONTROL Brussels
Cpt. Dirk De Winter Veronica Mc Mahon Brent Day
October 2011

The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation

Examples of European CDA procedures

This presentation gives an overview of some CDA
procedures currently (September 2011) in use in
Europe:
4 types of procedures are given:

Open path

Open/Closed path

Closed path

Procedures with CDA-potential

CDA European examples

Examples of European CDA procedures

Open Path:

Newcastle

Open/Closed Path:

East Midlands
London Heathrow

Closed Path:

Munich
Lisbon
Stockholm Arlanda
Paris CDG
Marseille Provence

Procedure with CDA potential: Budapest

CDA European examples

Example of open path CDA procedure

These examples have been chosen to highlight

not only the differences in procedure design,
but also the differences in:
The way the information on CDA is published for pilots
(text/chart)
Onboard navigation equipment required
Altitude at which CDA starts
Time CDA procedure is available
Who initiates the procedure
Specific Phraseology published or not
Combination with low drag / low noise technique
CDA European examples

Example of open path CDA procedure

Newcastle
Text Page:
Entry point with minimum altitude
ATC provides DTG information
No recommended speeds

CDA European examples

Example of open path CDA procedure

CDA European examples

Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

East Midlands
Text Page:
Low power/low drag
Continuous descent profile
ATC provide DTG
Intercept GS without level flight
Speed info

CDA European examples

Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

East Midlands

CDA European examples

Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

CDA European examples

Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

London Heathrow
Text Page:

Speed guidance
ATC provide DTG
Continuous Descent
Intercept GS without level
flight

Arrival Plate: Continuous Descent

Minimum altitudes

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Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

London Heathrow

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Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

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Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

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Example of open/closed path CDA procedure

Munich
Text Page:

Requested by pilot or offered by ATC

Only followed by ILS
Continuous Descent
1nm level flight before GS intercept
ATC provide DTG
ATC advises no CDA possible

Arrival Plate: When cleared transition and

profile
GPS or FMS equipped aircraft
Minimum altitudes
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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Munich

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Lisbon
Arrival Plate: RNAV procedure
Explicit ATC clearance required
Usable between 22h00 and 06h00
Altitude windows
CDO start at PT405 FL170-FL115

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Stockholm
Text Page: Low power / Low drag
Start CDA as high as possible
ATC provide DTG below TA
CDA: level flight <2nm below 5000
Arrival Plate: Plan CDA from at least FL100
P-RNAV approval required
Used at night and low traffic
Speed and minimum altitude

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Stokholm Arlanda

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Paris Charles De Gaulle

Arrival Plate: RNAV procedure to ILS
By request of ATC or flight crew
Procedure can be stopped any
time
To ILS or Loc approach
Usable between 01h00 to 04h30 lt
Speed and minimum altitudes

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Marseille Provence
Text Page: Only with ILS 31R
CDA avoid level flight below 2500
Final approach gradient 4(mountains)
Procedure start at IAF
ARLET between 4000 and 5000
ATC provide DTG if under RV
Speed and altitude windows
Phraseology provided

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Example of closed path CDA procedure

Marseille Provence

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Example of procedure with CDA-potential

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Example of procedure with CDA-potential

Budapest
Arrival Plate: RNAV transition
GPS or FMS equipped aircraft
Speed and minimum altitude
guidance
Clearance phraseology

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Example of procedure with CDA-potential

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CDA - Jeppesen Feedback

 Source is very different, depending on State
 Keep procedure names simple! (Coding limited to 6 characters)
 Chart Identification: note on the chart (there is no Route Type in
ARINC for CDA), do not use CDA in the procedure designation
 Define a minimum set of data which shall go on the chart, if
available and depending on the type of CDA.
 Global Database Identification format (Spain uses, for example DC
(Descenso Continuo)
 Be aware that speed restrictions and altitude constraints can only
be coded at a fix level and not to a segment.
 Recommendation to use ICAO abbreviated procedure description
method to support database coding
 Create consistency in the name: Continuous Descent operations,
Continuous Descent Arrivals, Continuous Descent Approaches
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specific CDA phraseology

If on an arrival or transition:
DESCEND to FL60 VIA NAMUG 08L
PROFILE DESCEND NAMUG 08L FL60
e.g. LHBP

As opposed to
OPEN DESCEND NAMUG 08L FL60
UNRESTRICTED DESCEND NAMUG 08L FL60
If under radar vectors
DESCEND FL60
CONTINUOUS DESCEND FL60
EXPEDITE DESCEND FL60

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Pilot CDA issues

Is CDA procedure available ?
Navigation equippement required
Can we initiate it ?
What speed schedule to use ?
Do we apply low drag/low noise technique ?
Are we allowed a small level segment ?

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