Dynamic Generation Strategy for the 4D Continuous Descent Approach Vertical Profile

Abstract

AbstractThe continuous descent approach significantly reduces the effects of fuel burn and noise by allowing the arriving aircraft to remain at its cruising altitude for a longer period of time, followed by a continuous descent and no horizontal flight segment at near-idle thrust. The continuous descent approach procedure is optimized for vertical routing. As arrival time requirements and noise reduction rules change, continuous descent methods need further study. In this paper, a method is proposed to generate an aircraft-specific dynamic continuous descent approach route that is vertically optimized for noise, emissions, fuel, and flight time. The method consists of discretizing the terminal airspace into concentric cylinders with artificial waypoints and using an enumerative eliminated flight grid (based on aircraft performance envelopes and flight constraints) to identify all possible routes. From the possible successive descent routes, the route with the best trade-off for a given target was identified. In case the aircraft deviates from the originally predicted route, the optimal route based on the current state is quickly predicted. The dynamic continuous descent algorithm is implemented in the simulation system.KeywordsCDADynamic programmingTrajectory prediction