RSPA/Volpe Center Arrival/Departure Tradeoff Optimization at STL: a Case Study Dr. Eugene P. Gilbo tel.: (617) CDM Arrival/Departure Subgroup Meeting January 24, 2001

RSPA/Volpe Center Goals of the Study Test the Feasibility of the Airport Arrival and Departure Capacity Optimization Approach. Design the Arrival/Departure Tradeoff Tool as an Automated Decision Support Tool for Improving Arrival and Departure TFM Strategies at Airports. Evaluate Potential Benefits of the Optimization Approach for Improving Airport Capacity Utilization, Increasing the Airport Throughput, and Reducing Delays. Design the Operational Concept for Using the Tool.

RSPA/Volpe Center AIRPORT CAPACITY: Arrival/Departure Capacity Curve (# of dep/15min) (# of dep/15min) dep. capacity (# of arr/15min) arr. capacity (# of arr/15min) arr. capacity trade-off area

RSPA/Volpe Center AIRPORT CAPACITY: Set of Integer Pairs: Arrival/Departure Capacity (# of dep/15min) dep. capacity (# of arr/15min) arr. capacity

RSPA/Volpe Center Dynamic Optimization of Airport Arrival/Departure Capacity Trade-off and Airport Throughput Criterion:Minimum Weighted Sum of Total Arrival and Departure Delay Input:Time Period of Interest Predicted Arrival and Departure Traffic Demand Weather Conditions Schedule of Runway Configurations and Their Arrival/Departure Capacity Curves Output:Airport Arrival and Departure Rates (Capacities) Arrival and Departure Traffic Flow

RSPA/Volpe Center Optimization Criteria Minimum Weighted Sum of Total Arrival and Departure Delay: minimize [ α Total Arr. Delay + (1 – α) Total Dep. Delay ], arr.cap, dep. cap Minimum Weighted Sum of Arrival and Departure Cumulative Queues: minimize [ α Cumul. Arr. Queue + (1 – α) Cumul. Dep. Queue ], arr.cap, dep. cap

RSPA/Volpe Center Optimal Arrival/Departure Strategy STL, 8/16/00, # of flights time ARRIVALS DEPARTURES demand capacity Total Arrival Delay: 60 min Total Departure Delay: 75 min

RSPA/Volpe Center Overall Design of the Study 1.Volpe Center Designs and Develops the Arrival/Departure Tradeoff Optimization Tool Using Both ETMS and Airport- Specific Data. 2.STL TFM Specialists Provide the Volpe Center with the Full Set of Runway Configurations and Their AARs and ADRs (Tradeoff Ranges) for Various Weather Conditions. 3.The Study is Based on Comparative Analysis of Optimal TFM Strategies Calculated by the Tool and the Ones Proposed by the STL Traffic Management Specialists for the Days with Heavy Traffic Demand. 4.The Study is a Collaborative Effort Involving the Specialists from Volpe Center, FAA and TWA.

RSPA/Volpe Center 1. Initial Prototype Tool Has Been Developed. 2.Numerical Experiments Have Been Completed and Analyzed for Seven-Day Data: July 20, 21, August 1, 9, 14, 15 and 16, The Tool-Generated Strategies were Equivalent to or Better than the Strategies Proposed by the STL TFM Specialists. 4.Multiple Optimal Strategies for STL May Be Determined by the Arrival/Departure Tradeoff Tool. 5.Multiple Optimal Solutions Give the Airlines a Set of Options for Selecting the Best Strategy. However, Additional CDM Procedures are Needed for this Kind of Selection. Status of the Study and Preliminary Results

RSPA/Volpe Center STL, Runway Configuration A30LR, 24 / D30LR # of dep/15min # of arr/15min Airport Capacity ArrDep

RSPA/Volpe Center Table 2. TFM Strategy proposed by the STL specialists, 7/21/00, Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: TFM Strategy Proposed by the STL Specialists, 7/21/00, Total Delay: arrival - 45 min; departure min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Arrival/Departure Tradeoff Tool Determined 15 Optimal Strategies With Total Arrival and Departure Delay 180 min (8% reduction) Time Initial Demand A/p CapacityTraffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 7/21/00, Total Delay: arrival - 45 min; departure min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 7/21/00, Total Delay: arrival - 75 min; departure min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 7/21/00, Total Delay: arrival - 75 min; departure min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial Demand A/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 7/21/00, Total Delay: arrival min; departure - 75 min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: TFM Strategy Proposed by the STL Specialists, 8/16/00, Total Delay: arrival min; departure - 60 min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 8/16/00, Arrival/Departure Tradeoff Tool Determined 27 Optimal Strategies With Total Arrival and Departure Delay 135 min (31% reduction) Total Delay: arrival - 0 min; departure min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival - 0 min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 8/16/00, Total Delay: arrival - 60 min; departure - 75 min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 8/16/00, Total Delay: arrival - 60 min; departure - 75 min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Time Initial DemandA/p Capacity Traffic Flow Queue Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep.Arr.Dep – – – – – TOTAL: Optimal TFM Strategy, 8/16/00, Total Delay: arrival - 90 min; departure - 45 min; arr + dep min Average Delay per Flight: arrival min; departure min

RSPA/Volpe Center Shirt Term: 1.Improving the tool based on - additional functions (graphics, arrival/departure alerts) - feedback from the users. 2. Investigate methods for dealing with multiple optimal solutions at STL. 3. Start a case study at EWR. Further Steps

RSPA/Volpe Center Long Term: 1.Begin wide–scale effort for determining full sets of runway configurations and corresponding capacity curves for major US airports. 2.Work with the TFM FAA and airlines’ specialists on sites for efficient usage of the tool. 3.Explore new airline inputs for improving efficiency of the TFM CDM. 4.Expand functionalities of the tool by taking into account of arrival and departure fixes in the optimization procedure. Further Steps (cont.)