Departure coordination problems

The problems associated with coordinating departure aircraft within the National Airspace System (NAS) to satisfy the multiple constraints affecting them and to produce safe, manageable streams of aircraft are described. Departure aircraft are affected by the finite capacity of NAS resources and contention among aircraft waiting to use these resources. Restrictions affecting the use of NAS resources and constraining departure aircraft are presented from the perspective of the airport surface, terminal airspace, en route airspace, and arrival airport. The operational ground delay automation and prototyped departure coordination capabilities are discussed