ATM performance measurement in Europe, the US and China

Air traffic management (ATM) performance and the metrics used in its assessment are investigated for the first time across the three largest ATM world regions: Europe, the US and China. The market structure and flow management practices of each region are presented. A wide range of performance data across these three regions is synthesised. For topological and performance assessment, the notion of a ‘sufficient’ sample is often non-intuitive: many metrics may behave non-monotonically as a function of sampling fraction. Missing and under-developed metrics are identified, and the need for a balance between standardisation and flexibility is proposed. Longitudinal and cross-sectional metric trade-offs are identified.