Aircraft routing problem model for fractional fleets using fault prognostics

Abstract

PurposeThe objective of this work is to provide a novel aircraft allocation model for fractional business aviation. This model may provide decision-makers with alternative routing solutions that take into consideration preventive maintenance and failure prognostics information. The expected results are more efficient routing solutions when compared to conventional planning models, to help decision-makers improve operations and maintenance planning.Design/methodology/approachThe model is a mixed integer linear problem formulation addressing and considering preventive maintenance and failure prognostics for optimal operations. Numerical experiments were performed using both field and synthetic data to validate the proposed method. All instances are solved using branch, price and cut algorithms from open-source software.FindingsThe results obtained in this study show that the use of failure prognostics information in aircraft routing can provide improvements in overall planning. By choosing slightly longer flight legs, the flight cost will increase, but putting an aircraft with a higher risk of failure on a leg inbound to a maintenance base can reduce maintenance and overall operating cost.Originality/valueThe model and method provide decision-makers with routing solutions that consider new aspects of planning, not used in previous works, such as failure. Most of the literature focuses on solving routing problems for large commercial airlines. Considering that, few solutions are found in literature for fractional business operators, which have their own operational particularities, such as a company managing a fleet of aircraft belonging to multiple shareowners. In such operation, clients may not always fly in the aircraft that they are shareowners, but an aircraft from the fractional fleet of the same category. Here, the company managing the aircraft guarantees that an aircraft will be ready to attend client demands in minimum time. One of the major differences from other models of operation is the dynamic nature of its flight demands, thus requiring flexible and agile planning limiting the available time to find a routing solution.