Abstract

International audience; This paper presents a new challenge on the strategic 4D trajectory optimization problem with the evaluation of air traffic complexity by using the geometric-based intrinsic complexity measure called König metric. The demonstration of König metric shows the potential that the algorithm can capture the disorganized the disorganized traffic which represents the difficulty of maintaining situational awareness as expected by the air traffic controller. We reformulate the optimization problem with two trajectory separation approaches including delaying flight departure time and allocating the new flight level subject to limited delay time of departure, limited changes of flight levels and fuel consumption constraints. We propose our solution to solve daily traffic demands in the regional French airspace. The resolution process uses the distributed metaheuristic algorithm to optimize aircraft trajectories in 4D environment with the objective of finding the optimal air traffic complexity. The experimental results shows the reduction of maximum complexity more than 95 % with average delay of 2.69 minutes. The optimized trajectories can save fuel more than 80000 kg. The proposed algorithm not only reduces the air traffic complexity but also maintain its distribution in traffic. The research results represent further steps towards taking other trajectory separations methods and aircraft trajectory uncertainties into account, developing our approach at the continental scale as well as adapting it in the pre-tactical and tactical planning phase.

Abstract

Free Route Airspace is an operational concept for the modernization of the airspace, addressed to improving the efficiency of the flights. It also aims at the environmental friendly performance area by reducing the emissions from fuel burnt. But these benefits should not derive in a loss of safety. Several areas are introducing free route as part of the Single European Sky Airspace Research programme (SESAR). This paper assesses the Northern Europe Free Route Airspace deployment, where two SESAR solutions are combined: the Free Route Airspace and the Functional Airspace Blocks. This assessment is produced using fast-time simulations and presented from a safety perspective using two indicator sets: the aircraft loss of separation and the airspace complexity. The number of potential separation losses, together with complexity metrics, such as adjusted density, potential horizontal, vertical and/or speed interactions, are presented for different free route deployment status. Results reflect that from the safety perspective the free route deployment in North Europe did not present notable changes in terms of the selected indicators, despite of the increase of traffic of last years. Peer Reviewed