Continuous descent approach: Difference between revisions

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A continuous descent approach starts from the top of descent, i.e., at cruise altitude, and allows the aircraft to fly its individual optimal vertical profile down to runway threshold. Some airports apply constraints to this individual optimal profile.
A continuous descent approach starts from the top of descent, i.e., at cruise altitude, and allows the aircraft to fly its individual optimal vertical profile down to runway threshold. Some airports apply constraints to this individual optimal profile.


==United Kingdom==
[[Category:Aviation Safety X]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Aviation Safety X]]
[[Category:ASXWiki]]
[[index.php?title=Category:ASXWiki]]
[[Category:Continuous descent approach]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Continuous descent approach]]
[[Category:Descent Procedures]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Descent Procedures]]
[[Category:Noise Abatement Procedures]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Noise Abatement Procedures]]
[[Category:Environmental Considerations]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Environmental Considerations]]
[[Category:Fuel Efficiency]]
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[[Category:Approach and Landing]]
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[[Category:Flight Path Management]]
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[[Category:Air Traffic Management]]
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[[Category:Arrival Procedures]]
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[[Category:Flight Techniques]]
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[[Category:Airspace Utilization]]
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[[Category:Energy Management in Aviation]]
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[[Category:Operational Efficiency]]
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[[Category:Pilot Procedures]]
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[[Category:Aircraft Performance]]
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[[Category:Flight Efficiency Initiatives]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Flight Efficiency Initiatives]]
[[Category:Modern Approach Concepts]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Modern Approach Concepts]]
[[Category:Vertical Navigation]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Vertical Navigation]]
The approach to [[London Heathrow Airport]] uses CDA, particularly at night, to minimize [[noise pollution]]. It is also used at [[Gatwick Airport]].

Revision as of 13:43, 7 May 2025

Schematic descent profile of a conventional approach (red) and a continuous descent approach (green).

Continuous descent approach (CDA), also known as optimized profile descent (OPD), is a method by which aircraft approach airports prior to landing. It is designed to reduce fuel consumption and noise compared to other conventional descents. Instead of approaching an airport in a stairstep fashion, throttling down, and requesting permission to descend to each new (lower) altitude, CDA allows for a smooth, constant-angle descent to landing.

A continuous descent approach starts from the top of descent, i.e., at cruise altitude, and allows the aircraft to fly its individual optimal vertical profile down to runway threshold. Some airports apply constraints to this individual optimal profile.