Continuous descent approach

Schematic descent profile of a conventional approach (red) and a continuous descent approach (green).

Continuous descent approach (CDA), also known as optimized profile descent (OPD), is a method by which aircraft approach airports prior to landing. ^[1] CDAs avoid long segments of flight at a level altitude by allowing aircraft to descend continuously at a constant angle. It is designed to reduce fuel consumption and noise pollution compared to other conventional descents. ^{[2] [3]}

A continuous descent approach starts from the top of descent, i.e., at cruise altitude, and allows the aircraft to fly its optimal vertical profile down to runway threshold. Some airports apply constraints to this individual optimal profile. ^[1]

United Kingdom

CDAs were first used at London airports, including Heathrow ^[4] and Gatwick ^[5] in the early 2000s.

See also

• List of aviation, avionics, aerospace and aeronautical abbreviations
• Index of aviation articles
• QTOL
• Nap-of-the-earth

References

1. "Continuous Descent | SKYbrary Aviation Safety". skybrary.aero. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
2. "CAP 2302 - A Low Noise Arrival Metric". 2021.
3. "Continuous climb and descent operations (CCO / CDO) | EUROCONTROL". www.eurocontrol.int. 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
4. BAA Heathrow (2004–2005). "Flight Evaluation Report 2004/05" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-11-26. Retrieved 2 November 2007.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. BAA Gatwick. "Flight Evaluation Report 2006/07" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2008.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)