While you are still at cruise speed and before your aircraft starts to descend towards its destination airport, an air traffic controller is already integrating it in an arrival sequence so that traffic runs as smoothly as possible by complying with the minimum separation distance between aircraft
When your aircraft starts its descent the ‘approach’ controller (APP) at the control centre will as soon as possible authorise your flight’s pilot to follow a continuous glide path (CDO - Continuous Descent Operation). That procedure consists in the aircraft descending continuously, by gliding, with minimal motor power. As a result, the aircraft consumes less kerosene, produces less noise and offers more comfort to both passengers and the overflown population.
