Stockholm Arlanda is claiming to be the first European airport to introduce a concept intended to increase landing rates for parallel approaches by changing the required separation standards.

The concept – known as ‘EoR’ or ‘established on RNP-AR’ – will be used for curved approaches to runway 01L/19R, which demand a specific level of navigation performance capability.

Aircraft flying the curved approach to be considered established on the approach earlier than the point where it is actually aligned with the runway.

This will enable a change in the separation requirements between these aircraft and those flying the normal ILS approach to the parallel 01R/19L, allowing the airspace to be used more efficiently.

“When an aircraft has been cleared for an RNP-AR approach, it shall report ‘Established’ on the approach procedure before reaching the intermediate fix,” says an 18 September update to the Swedish aeronautical information publication.

“Once established, the aircraft is considered separated from aircraft conducting an ILS approach on the parallel runway.”

ICAO approved the new EoR separation standard in 2018, enabling aircraft to conduct simultaneous approaches to parallel runways without the standard requirement of 3nm lateral or 1,000ft vertical separation.

The concept was initially put in place at Calgary in the same year, and a number of airports, including Toronto, have since introduced it.

Swedish air navigation service Luftfartsverket says the airspace modernisation will help reduce environmental impact.

“Traffic flow into Stockholm Arlanda airport becomes more efficient during peak hours, and arriving aircraft have shorter flightpaths with reduced emissions,” says director of operations Anna Granberg.

Flying the curved approach requires aircraft fitted with the necessary navigation capability, as well as specially-trained pilots and authorisation from national regulators.

Scandinavian carrier SAS says the introduction of EoR is a “step in the right direction” towards increased airspace efficiency around the capital airport.

Airport operator Swedavia’s director of operations, Susanne Norman, adds that the ability to take greater advantage of curved approaches – and reduce the queue for the dedicated landing runway – is “the most effective way to support airlines” in their transition to more sustainable flight.