NATS, Leidos and Indra support SANS’ Intelligent Approach

Above: (left to right) Rawan Jambi, Ahmed Al Zahrani, Ben Sandford, Andy Foxhall, Connor Mullan (Think Research), Saleh Almotirey, Ben Kiff, Graeme Emmons (Leidos) and Bob Graham.
Courtesy NATS

Intelligent Approach is the world’s only time-based separation arrivals management tool. Developed jointly by NATS and Leidos, it uses dynamically calculated time-based spacing to increase runway capacity, reduce delays and minimise carbon emissions.

Saudi Arabia is making major investments in its aviation infrastructure to help drive the Kingdom’s growth ambitions as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, with the intention to triple annual passenger traffic to 330 million, develop two global long haul connecting hub airports and increase air cargo volume to 4.5 million tonnes. Intelligent Approach, as a way of maximising runway efficiency and reducing controller workload will be instrumental in delivering against those ambitions.  

Engineer Abdulaziz Al-Zaid, CEO of SANS, emphasised that this step marks a major milestone in advancing the Kingdom’s aviation sector. He stated: “The implementation of the Intelligent Approach system across Saudi airports will directly increase capacity and elevate operational efficiency, while also playing a vital role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. Through this agreement, we at SANS are proud to be the first in the Middle East to adopt this cutting- edge system, maximising runway utilisation and strengthening our ability to achieve the goals of the national aviation strategy.”

Martin Rolfe, NATS Chief Executive Officer, said: “Intelligent Approach is the world’s leading operational time based separation tool and is delivering significant benefits in every operation where it’s being used, improving resilience, boosting on time performance and minimising emissions, while reducing controller workload. This milestone deployment is the first of its kind in the Middle East, and we’re looking forward to working together with SANS to ensure the project delivers similar benefits for them and for the airlines and passengers using Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah airports.”

Graham Emmons, Vice President, Managing Director Civil UK at Leidos, added: “We are delighted to be collaborating with SANS, NATS and Indra on the deployment of Intelligent Approach at Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah airports. With a proven track record of enhancing operational performance, Intelligent Approach will support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Strategy by increasing capacity at key airports, improving the passenger experience, and helping to meet environmental targets.”  

In 2024, NATS, Leidos and Indra agreed that Intelligent Approach would be made available to users of Indra’s ManagAir ATM system as a seamless upgrade. SANS will be the first user to take advantage of that option. Enrique Castillo, ATM Business Development Director at Indra, said: “This collaboration with NATS and Leidos allows us to offer solutions that increase capacity, reduce delays, and minimise emissions in Saudi Arabia.”  

Intelligent Approach is the world’s only true time based separation tool and works by calculating the optimum time interval between arrivals based on the live wind conditions and the aircraft type. It then displays that gap as a separation and spacing indicator to the controllers on their radar screens.

This improves the consistency of spacing between arrivals in all conditions but is especially effective during strong headwinds when separating aircraft by traditional fixed distances results in a falling landing rate with knock-on delays. Since it’s deployment at Heathrow a decade ago, Intelligent Approach has cut headwind related delays by more than 60% and reduced airborne holding by 230,000 minutes per annum, saving over 45,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.  

It has since been deployed at Toronto Pearson and Amsterdam Schiphol airports, and most recently, at London Gatwick where it entered service in March 2025 as a world first for a single runway airport.