04.3 Capacity & Demand
Training Objective
To understand how traffic demand interacts with sector capacity.
Key Knowledge
- Sector capacity limits
- Traffic demand patterns
- Complexity vs aircraft count
Operational Application
Controllers shall:
- Monitor sector capacity continuously
- Recognise when demand exceeds manageable limits
- Apply measures to reduce complexity
1. Overview
Capacity refers to the maximum traffic a sector can handle safely, while demand is the number of aircraft requiring service.
2. Core Content
2.1 Sector Capacity
- Defined by workload, not just aircraft count
- Varies with complexity
2.2 Traffic Demand
- Peaks and flows vary throughout the day
- May exceed capacity if unmanaged
2.3 Complexity Factors
- Crossing routes
- Climb/descent traffic
- Speed variation
3. Procedures
3.1 Monitoring
- Controllers shall anticipate capacity issues
- Action shall be taken before overload occurs
4. Standards
- Sector workload shall remain within safe limits
5. Notes
- High traffic does not always mean high complexity