A Trajectory Modeling Environment for the Study of Arrival Traffic Delivery Accuracy

Abstract

This pap er presents the development and preliminary results of a trajectory analysis and modeling environment developed in MATLAB and applied to the study of the effects of navigation performance on arrival timing accuracy . This work supports ongoing efforts at The Boeing Company to develop new air traffic management (ATM) concepts and procedures based on accurate navigation standards such as Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and Required Time of Arrival (RTA) . The arrival management concept studied involves th e use of advanced ground automation that perform s sequencing and spacing based on FMS paths rather than relying on controller tactical vectoring . These paths can be defined in three dimensions from prior to top of descent (TOD) to the meter fix and then to the runway , potentially including speed and altitude constraints when needed and would be communicated to the air crew via voice communication and executed to standards (e.g. RNP, RTA) by t he air navigation function embedded in the Flight Management Syste m (FMS). This concept is viewed as a transition step towards the US next generation air traffic system currently being studied by the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO).