An Investigation into Air Traffic Control by a Simulation Method

Abstract

It is now generally recognized that, under instrument conditions, traffic congestion at busy airports is already bad and any further increase in traffic density would be unmanageable without improvements in methods of air traffic control. A study of the problems of air traffic control by full-scale tests is prohibitively expensive and a practical alternative is required. This paper describes a series of investigations into air traffic control problems by simulation methods.Laboratory equipment suitable for such experiments is described briefly and has been shown to give a reliable quantitative assessment of the effect of changes in a control system. A number of possible control systems were studied in detail.