An optimization approach for scheduling aircraft landings in a terminal area under the concept of alternative arrival routes

• Main Author: Mayara Condé Rocha Murça
• Publication Date: 2013
• Format: Master thesis
• Language: eng
• Source: Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações do ITA
• Download full: http://www.bd.bibl.ita.br/tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=2836
• topic: Controle de tráfego aéreo; Análise de trajetórias; Otimização; Transporte aéreo; Engenharia aeronáutica

This work aimed to study the impact of incorporating optimization techniques into the air traffic flow management in the terminal area, specifically in the stage of arrival sequencing to an airport. For this, a mixed integer linear programming model for aircraft sequencing and scheduling for landing was developed, which seeks to determine discrete delays and discrete time advances, associated with the use of alternative arrival routes by aircraft, in the process of minimizing unavoidable deviations from the target landing time. The model developed was applied to the Brazilian scenario in order to evaluate the potential benefit it may generate if it is incorporated in a decision support tool for this stage of air traffic control. The Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport was chosen as case study. From a radar database of a typical day of operations, a trajectory analysis was developed and input data for the optimization was obtained. The performance of the model, in terms of total deviations and computational time, was then evaluated for different operating scenarios by changing the following parameters: sequencing strategy, criteria of separation between aircraft, dynamic approach and discretization of the set of delays/time advances. Finally, the model benefits assessment revealed that the optimization approach was able to generate a reduction of total deviations, in relation to the actual solutions of traffic flow management taken, with a range of 5% to 35%, depending on the discretization level adopted and on the number of alternative approach routes available. Therefore, it is emphasized the potential of such models in reducing delays, fuel consumption, emissions and controller workload.