Method and system to predict airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available

• US 9,076,327 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lonnie Howard Bowlin, Rade Michael Baiada
• Original Assignee: Lonnie Howard Bowlin, Rade Michael Baiada
• Inventors: Baiada, Rade Michael, Bowlin, Lonnie Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Application Number:
  US14/218,027
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/00 Traffic control systems for aircraft , e.g. air-traffic control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for automatically predicting the airport capacity (i.e., arrival capacity—the number of aircraft that can land in a given amount of time or landing rate), the landing direction (the direction of the landing runways, i.e., north, south, east or west), the landing runway (the specific runway on which the aircraft is predicted to land) for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport, based upon consideration of available aviation data regarding the weather, landings runways, airport configuration, departures, etc., to achieve a more accurate airport capacity, landing direction and landing runway prediction.

Claims

1. A computer program product in a computer readable memory for controlling a processor to allow an airline, aviation authority or other entity to more accurately predict the airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a specified set of aircraft, during a specified time at a specified airport, based upon specified data comprised of the historical and current weather, airport conditions/configuration, arrival/departure demand, associated system resources, aviation system specified criteria and other specified data, some of which is temporally varying, said method comprising the steps of:

a means of continuously collecting and storing the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means of continuously measuring the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the actual airport capacity, actual departure capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means for assigning to each of the plurality of data a figure of merit whose value is a measure of the accuracy of the data, wherein the Figure of Merit (FOM), having a specified value, which, when exceeded, implies that the plurality of data is of sufficient accuracy and reliability so as to warrant its use in the prediction of the airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and updating the databases and other specified data to capture the latest information, such that the databases represent a data set for a time period that represents a current and statistically accurate view of the historical data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

2. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

3. A computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

a means of continuously monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated data applicable for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the specified updated data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount such that the system provides;

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

4. A computer program product as recited in claim 3, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

5. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a means of continuously monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated data applicable for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the specified updated data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount such that the system provides;

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

6. A computer program product as recited in claim 5, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

7. A computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

8. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

9. A method to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to more accurately predict the airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a specified set of aircraft, during a specified time at a specified airport, based upon specified data comprised of the historical and current weather, airport conditions/configuration, arrival/departure demand, associated system resources, aviation system specified criteria and other specified data, some of which is temporally varying, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously collecting and storing the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

continuously measuring the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

continuously collecting and storing the actual airport capacity, actual departure capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means for assigning to each of the plurality of data a figure of merit whose value is a measure of the accuracy of the data, wherein the Figure of Merit (FOM), having a specified value, which, when exceeded, implies that the plurality of data is of sufficient accuracy and reliability so as to warrant its use in the prediction of the airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and updating the databases and other specified data to capture the latest information, such that the databases represent a data set for a time period that represents a current and statistically accurate view of the historical data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

10. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated data applicable for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the specified updated data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount such that the system provides;

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated data applicable for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the specified updated data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount such that the system provides;

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

17. A system, including a processor, memory, display and input device to allow an airline, aviation authority or other entity to more accurately predict the airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a specified set of aircraft, during a specified time at a specified airport, based upon specified data comprised of the historical and current weather, airport conditions/configuration, arrival/departure demand, associated system resources, aviation system specified criteria and other specified data, some of which is temporally varying, said method comprising the steps of:

a means of continuously collecting and storing the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means of continuously measuring the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the actual airport capacity, actual departure capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport to create a historical database of said data,

a means for assigning to each of the plurality of data a figure of merit whose value is a measure of the accuracy of the data, wherein the Figure of Merit (FOM), having a specified value, which, when exceeded, implies that the plurality of data is of sufficient accuracy and reliability so as to warrant its use in the prediction of the airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and updating the databases and other specified data to capture the latest information, such that the databases represent a data set for a time period that represents a current and statistically accurate view of the historical data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

a means of continuously monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated data applicable for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the specified updated data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount such that the system provides;

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

21. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

a means of continuously monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated data applicable for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means for continuously collecting and storing the specified updated data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount such that the system provides;

a means for correlating the data in the historical database of the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data during a specified time period, at a specified airport with the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport to determine what historical weather conditions (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available, airport configuration, arrival/departure demand and other specified data yielded what actual airport capacity, actual landing direction and actual landing runway,

a means of using airline schedules, current aircraft position (ASDI, ADS-B, ADS-C, etc.), aircraft flight plans, future aircraft trajectories and other specified data to predict the arrival/departure demand for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of using the correlation of the data in the historical database for the historical actual weather (wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), historical actual runways available, historical actual airport configuration and other specified data to the historical database of the historical actual airport capacity, historical actual landing direction and historical actual landing runway for the same set of specified aircraft, during the same specified time period, at the same specified airport in conjunction with the current airport weather (i.e., METAR), predicted airport weather (i.e., TAF), current runways available (i.e., ATIS), predicted arrival/departure demand and other specified data to predict the future airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport,

a means of communicating the predicted airport capacity, landing direction, landing runway and runways available, once the FOM is above a specified value, to the aviation and other processes, systems and personnel that have use of this information.

22. A computer program product as recited in claim 21, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.

24. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the forecast weather (i.e., Terminal Area Forecast—

TAF), actual weather (i.e., METAR Weather Report, wind speed/direction, ceiling, visibility, etc.), runways available (i.e., Automatic Terminal Information Service—

ATIS), airport/runway conditions, the actual airport capacity, actual landing direction, actual landing runway and other specified data for a set of specified aircraft, during a specified time period, at a specified airport.