Analysing the benefits of trajectory deviations for planar trajectory optimisation

Arif, Salman; Atkin, Jason; De Maere, Geert

Abstract

Aircraft traverse airspace sectors under the supervision of Air Traffic Controllers by following navigation points. The trajectories can deviate from these points under the supervision of controllers. However, the controllers have to consider various factors for managing air traffic which increases their workload. We aim to offline analyse the potential benefits of trajectory deviations, by tactically shifting navigation points for planar trajectory optimisation of multiple aircraft at an enroute sector level. Historic deviations of trajectories are considered for this analysis to implement them at practical level. Within nominal speed and turning rate of aircraft trajectories, 5.47% reduction in time cost and an annual fuel saving worth US$ 29.32 million has been estimated using shifts for an airspace sector.

Citation

Arif, S., Atkin, J., & De Maere, G. (2023). Analysing the benefits of trajectory deviations for planar trajectory optimisation. Annals of Operations Research, 326(1), 537-560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-023-05302-9

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 17, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 19, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-07
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 13, 2025
• Journal: Annals of Operations Research
• Print ISSN: 0254-5330
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-9338
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 326
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 537-560
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-023-05302-9
• Keywords: Air Traffic Controllers, Navigation points, Trajectory deviations, Air tyraffic flow management, Trajectory optimisation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/22989464
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10479-023-05302-9
• Additional Information: Accepted: 17 March 2023; First Online: 19 April 2023; : ; : The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.; : Not applicable.; : Not applicable.; : Not applicable.