>Optimum Profile Descents have been around for decades. It is simply an arrival procedure from ALTITUDE that does not have multiple intermediate level off altitude<
Adding on....They are also known as Constant Rate Descents and have been in use in London for a decade.
The current ATC procedures and sequencing methods were developed in the 60s when many planes were not jets and many were not pressurized.
Todays avionics technology would make idle descent arrivals a breeze. The problem is the FAA and ATC are behemoths that have great difficulty changing direction and keeping up with private sector technology.
Can you believe ATC is still using HF radios for Atlantic crossings while the aircraft are communicating with company dispatch via satellite?
EC
Pretty sure TPA just started this. I’m close to an approach and just started noticing how jets are coming in now at what sounds like a low idle. I used to hear them about 30 sec.s out but now it’s less than maybe 10 sec.s and they’re much quieter.
Actually, there is CPDLC for most oceanic crossings - it uses satellite for communicating with Oceanic controllers - HF is only used as a listening only in case CPDLC fails.
OPDs are a little different from CSDs. CSDs maintain a required vertical speed to attain a precise altitude over a fix (not high or low). For instance, the CSD to the western runways at London Heathrow have you start the descent our of Okham at 9000 or more, to arrive on final approach at glide slope intercept.
A OPD has windowed altitudes at much higher altitudes (often cruise altitudes) and derive a constant idle descent to an airport’s transition altitudes.
Where this article gets it wrong is: Optimum Profile Descents are far from new - we have done them in the US for decades - and the engines are NEVER shut off which is so wrong it is ridiculous.
Woke DOT greenies are claiming credit for something that they have had nothing do with in implementing. I suspect this article came from someone who things DOT Sec Buttigegg is doing great work “running the airlines and airports.”