Optimal dispatch model for aviation-fuel vehicles in refuelling operations

Abstract

Taiwan Taoyuan international airport has been devoted to becoming a green airport in recent years, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CDEs) from ground handling services. Refuelling operations play a pivotal role in airport operations and, given the short and frequent nature of flight takeoffs and landings, demand substantial work. Different aircraft types and flight lengths require varying refuelling operations, and the inefficient and unrealistic dispatch of aviation-fuel vehicles can lead to flight delays. In this study, time–space network flow techniques were used to formalise the flow of aviation-fuel vehicles in both space and time. Based on the problem characteristics and by adding appropriate constraints, the aim of this work was to minimise CDEs and construct an optimal model for the refuelling operation scheduling of aviation-fuel vehicles. The proposed model was evaluated through a case study, and conclusions and recommendations are presented.