US Patent 10997865 Airport congestion determination for effecting air navigation planning

An airport congestion detection apparatus includes a predictor input module coupled to a multiple airport information system. The input module obtains from the multiple airport information system weather data for a current point in time and flight information for a predetermined airport. A controller coupled to the input module determines one or more of a number of predicted flight departures from the predetermined airport and a number of predicted flight arrivals to the predetermined airport within a future predetermined time period based on the weather data for the current point in time and the flight information, and determines, from the predictions, a congestion index for the predetermined airport. A user interface coupled to the controller presents to an operator of the airport congestion detection apparatus the congestion index so that one or more of a flight plan characteristic or an aircraft loading characteristic is modified based on the congestion index.