Airport Average Daily Capacity (AADC) refers to the average number of aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) that an airport can handle in a single day under normal conditions. This metric is crucial for understanding the operational limits and efficiency of an airport, especially in air traffic management and planning.

Key Components

1. Aircraft Operations: Includes both arrivals and departures .Sometimes includes other movements like touch-and-go or training flights, depending on context.
2. Capacity Factors: The capacity depends on multiple factors, such as: Number and configuration of runways Airfield layoutAir traffic control (ATC) procedures Weather conditionsAircraft mix (e.g., large jets vs small planes)Use of instrument flight rules (IFR) or visual flight rules (VFR)
3. Timeframe: Typically calculated over a 24-hour period.May be expressed per hour or per day.

How it's Calculated

There are various models used to estimate ADDC, but a general formula could look like this:

Average Daily Capacity = Hourly Capacity × Number of Operational Hours

• Hourly Capacity = Max number of takeoffs/landings per hour (e.g., 60 movements/hour with two runways).
• Operational Hours = Time window when full operations occur (e.g., 16 hours/day).

For example:If an airport handles 60 flights per hour during peak times and operates at that level for 12 hours a day, its AADC might average around 720 operations per day, assuming lower throughput during off-peak hours.

Real-World Examples

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): One of the busiest airports in the world, handling ~2,500+ daily operations .
• London Heathrow (LHR): Nearly maxed out at about 1,200–1,300 movements per day due to strict noise regulations and limited runways.
• Medium-sized Regional Airport: Might handle between 100–300 operations per day , depending on infrastructure.

Why AADC Matters

1. Air Traffic Management: Helps ATC plan flow rates and manage delays.
2. Airport Planning: Used to forecast future needs for infrastructure expansion.
3. Slot Allocation: Airlines bid for slots at high-demand airports based on capacity.
4. Environmental Impact Studies: Determines noise, emissions, and ground congestion.

Related Terms

• Aerodrome Reference Code (ARC): Classifies airports based on runway length and aircraft size.
• Runway Throughput: Maximum number of takeoffs/landings per unit time.
• Delay Metrics: ADDC helps predict how often delays occur when demand exceeds capacity.