The Use of Optimization to Perform Air Traffic Flow Management

Abstract

Traffic growth and changes in traffic patterns have caused increasing congestion and delay in the National Airspace System (NAS). This problem is exacerbated by bad weather which reduces the capacity of the NAS resources that must satisfy user demand. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) is responsible for generating strategies to solve the resulting air traffic flow management (TFM) problem. However, some NAS users believe that there are “better” TFM strategies than those that the ATCSCC typically generates and implements. Consequently, some recent research has focused on the use of optimization to solve the TFM problem.This article discusses the application of optimization models to the TFM problem. The features of the problem are discussed with emphasis on how the problem lends itself to solution via optimization. Several recent models are discussed at a general level. One model—the Time Assignment Model (TAM)—is discussed in greater detail. The history of the formulation, quantification, solution, and analysis of solutions is presented for this model. Finally, conclusions are presented on the status of current TFM optimization modeling research and the future of such efforts.KeywordsDelay CostFederal Aviation AdministrationMitre CorporationDestination AirportNational Airspace SystemThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.