Air traffic simulation with 4D multi-criteria optimized trajectories

Abstract

Today's aviation industry is faced with three conflicting goals: First, aeronautics already draws responsible for 2% of all anthropologically induced emissions, regarding C02 only (IATA 2013) and the need for reducing those emissions is no point of contention anymore. Second, the irresistible growth of air traffic demand challenges both, airport operations and air traffic flow management. And third, despite all changes, the expectations of safety are getting higher and higher. To account for the need of improved, safe and climate friendly aircraft operations, we present a simulation environment that is capable of optimizing a trajectory regarding multiple criteria. Therewith we show the positive impact of 4 D optimized trajectories on the air traffic flow, controller's taskload and airspace complexity and identify emphasize the importance of an enhanced air traffic flow management considering dynamic sectorisation and air space configuration.