This video is an introduction
to the Detroit Metropolitan
Wayne County Airport,
and its significance
within the national airspace system.
We'll talk about how air traffic operates
in the Detroit area
and the safety procedures
air traffic controllers
use to keep traffic
safely separated in the busy airspace.
We'll explain why this airport
is important to the community it serves
and how it has become
a key link
in the global network of air travel.
Detroit Metro Airport
is a major international airport
in the United States.
It serves as a hub for Delta Airlines.
It is one of Delta's
main gateways to Asia.
The airport includes six runways,
two terminals and 129 in-service gates.
Over the past 20 years,
Detroit has been bringing
in more passengers on fewer flights.
Larger, modern aircraft translate
into fewer takeoffs and landings.
Detroit Metro is an economic
driver for the region.
The airport is responsible
for more than 86,000
jobs across Michigan.
Its annual economic impact to the region
is estimated at 10.2
billion dollars.
The FAA, which has a 24-hour
facility at Detroit Metro,
oversees the safe and efficient
movement of aircraft.
So, how does the FAA handle aircraft
in and around Detroit Metro?
General runway identification
is based on the compass heading
the aircraft is facing
as it lands or takes off.
For example, runway 3/21
is facing
approximately 30 degrees in one direction
and 210 degrees
in the opposite direction.
If you drop the 0
at the end of the compass heading,
you will get 3 and 21.
Even though a runway is
a single strip of concrete,
it's essentially treated
as two separate surfaces.
Parallel runways are further designated
with an L for left
or R for right
at the end of the runway number.
At Detroit, you will
see runway 3R/21L,
and 3L/21R,
as well as 4R/22L
and 4L/22R.
Detroit also has two east/west
parallel runways:
Runway 9R/27L
and runway
9L/27R.
Since aircraft take off
and land into the wind,
runways are built to align
with historical wind patterns
specific to each airport.
At Detroit, wind patterns often
come from the south,
so aircraft take off
and land to the south,
which is called south flow.
However, configurations can change.
Change can come from wind direction,
weather conditions,
traffic volume
and even runway construction.
Because Detroit is close to the smaller
Willow Run airport,
traffic changes at Detroit
will affect traffic at Willow Run,
which means that
if Detroit is in south flow,
Willow Run will be in south flow too.
Detroit's air traffic
procedures include modern
satellite technology,
which enables pilots to fly
more direct routes.
Updated arrival and departure paths
use the airspace more efficiently,
reducing delays.
New procedures, improve
airport access in all weather conditions.
Satellite-based navigation
enables traffic to flow more efficiently
around other airports,
reducing fuel emissions.
Arrival procedures
also include optimized profile descents,
which enable aircraft
to descend to the surface
without leveling off,
reducing engine noise
and conserving fuel.
These procedures are being implemented
at airports nationwide,
increasing efficiency
and enabling aircraft
to travel seamlessly
throughout the country, and the world.
Here at Detroit,
the FAA studied these updates
and put them through
an environmental review,
and found that there is
no change in the overall noise footprint.
More benefits have come with new,
quieter engines on most aircraft,
including many of those flying
into Detroit Metro.
Thank you for learning more
about how air traffic operates
at Detroit Metro Airport.
Would you like to learn more?
Please visit our community
involvement website
for additional information.