An optimization model for tactical air traffic flow and capacity management

This study presents an optimization model for tactical air traffic flow and capacity management. The model used in this study arranges departure times of aircraft so as to avoid aircraft conflicts and to prevent capacity shortfalls at the airports due to excess demand. Setting air traffic control procedural separation minimas enables this study to be original. The model was tested on a scenario, which consists of an airspace sector, airport capacities and flight plans, and solved by a mathematical modeling and optimization software. Unlike this model, in case conflicts are not avoided on the planning phase -before aircraft departure, how much the requirement of riskier and costlier air traffic control measures would increase can be easily inferred from the solution results which demonstrate delay times. Considering standard conflict criterions based on procedural separation minimas and preferring standard ATFCM strategy based on ground delay of aircraft in the planning of flows, are the factors which make it easier to adapt the model to current ATFCM system. The model designed in the study seems to be appropriate for use in the airspace sectors especially whithout surveilance system.Keywords: Air Traffic Flow Management, Procedural Seperation, Conflict Avoidance, Mathematical Modeling, Integer Programming, Optimization