Memphis International Airport Research Articles

Economic Analysis of Developing a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Supply Chain Incorporating With Carbon Credits: A Case Study of the Memphis International Airport

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has been considered as a potential means to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the aviation sector, which is projected to continuously expand. This study examines the impact of developing a SAF sector along with carbon credits on carbon equivalent emissions from aviation using a Stackelberg leader-follower model that accounts for economic interaction between SAF processor and feedstock producers. The modeling framework is applied to an ex-ante optimization of commercial scale SAF production for the Memphis International Airport from the switchgrass-based alcohol-to-jet pathway. Results suggest that supplying 136 million gallons of SAF to the Memphis International Airport annually could reduce 62.5% of GHG emissions compared to conventional jet fuel (CJF). Incorporating with carbon credits, SAF could lower GHG emissions by about 65% in total from displacing CJF and generate additional welfare gains ranging between $12 and $51 million annually compared to the case without carbon credits. In addition, sensitivity analysis suggests advancing SAF conversion rate from biomass could lower the SAF break-even considerably and enhance the competitiveness of SAF over CJF.

Modeling and Forecasting Daily Temperature Time Series in the Memphis, Tennessee

Temperature is an essential weather component because of its tremendous impact on humans and the environment. As a result, one of the widely researched parts of global climate change study is temperature forecasting. This work analyzes trends and forecasts a temperature change to see the transient variations over time using daily temperature data from January 1, 2016 – November 3, 2019, collected from a weather station located at the Memphis International Airport. The Mann-Kendall (M-K) test is used to detect time series analysis patterns as a non-parametric technique. The result from the test revealed that the temperature time series increased by 0.0030 °F almost every day, implying that the location is becoming hotter. The other method of analysis is the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, which fits temperature time series using its three standard processes of identification, diagnosis, and forecasting. Considering the selection criteria, The seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) (3, 0, 0) (0, 1, 0)₃₆₅ model is found as appropriate for the studied temperature data on a daily basis. Finally, the selected model is utilized to estimate the next 50 days; after November 3, 2019, the temperature forecast showed an increasing trend. This observed trend provides an understanding of daily temperature change in the studied area for that specific period.

The Use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) for Low-visibility Takeoffs in Part 121 Operations

Twelve Part 121 operations commercial-carrier crews completed low-visibility takeoffs at Memphis International Airport using an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS). A 2x2x2x3 factorial design with runway visual range (RVR; 500 and 700 feet), runway edge lighting (high intensity or medium intensity) and two levels of EFVS (either captain’s head-up display only or with additional first officer’s head-down repeater) was used along with supplemental sample points and several baseline trials representing current-authorization conditions. Tasks included normal takeoffs, EFVS failure (both continue and reject trials), and engine failure (reject). There were no significant main effects of display or infrastructure in the main design (500, 700 RVR), and pilot performances in the experimental trials with EFVS were not markedly different from the baseline (current authorization) trials. All crews were able to stop the aircraft successfully on the runway during rejected takeoffs. Pilots uniformly believed they could successfully complete takeoffs or reject them in lower visibilities with EFVS as compared with using the head-up display without EFVS, which was sup-ported by observed performance.

Safety Assessment of Implemented NextGen Operational Improvements

Since most NextGen Operational Improvements (OIs) have been implemented recently, there is no traditional safety statistics, such as the number of accidents and/or incidents available to perform their formal safety evaluations. In this paper we present a process of safety assessment using precursors that may lead to unsafe outcomes. We use the radar track data to estimate traffic separations before and after NextGen OI implementation at Memphis International Airport (MEM). The FAA implemented Phase 1of wake re-categorization (RECAT) separation standards at MEM in November 2012. We examine the counts of wake, proximity, and anomalous trajectory events for two 30-day samples of pre- and post-RECAT periods. While the paper focuses on the methodology and is not intended to provide a detailed safety evaluation of RECAT, the findings suggest that RECAT implementation did not adversely affect the air traffic safety.

Using longitudinal employer dynamics (LED) data for the analysis of Memphis Aerotropolis, Tennessee

We used Longitudinal Employer Dynamics (LED) data for the analysis of the local workforce and job markets in Shelby County, Tennessee, which includes the city of Memphis. Memphis has earned the unique reputation in the US as America's Aerotropolis. However, the model has not yet received full attention by the urban geography community. This study analyzes the Memphis Aerotropolis (MA) defined as an economic hub extending outward from the Memphis International Airport into a surrounding area that specializes in transportation and warehousing. Our findings reveal polycentric pattern of employment which we grouped into centers, subcenters, and clusters. To understand industrial specialization of job areas, we used location quotient analysis. The area around the airport is consistent with the “Aerotropolis” concept, and attracts both jobs (it is the largest job concentration in the region) and housing. The area also has a greater share of higher-paying jobs, however female and minority workers benefit less than white male workers. This study contributes to the body of research on the spatial aspects of racial, gender, and paying/earning characteristics of both jobs and workers of a current-day metropolis. Availability of the LED data enables easy replication of the analysis of the local job and labor structure elsewhere within the United States.

Ionospheric Threat Mitigation by Geometry Screening in Ground-Based Augmentation Systems

Large spatial variations in ionospheric delay of Global Navigation Satellite System signals observed during severe ionospheric storms pose potential threats to the integrity of the Ground-Based Augmentation System, which supports aircraft precision approaches and landing. Range-domain monitoring within the Ground-Based Augmentation System ground facility cannot completely eliminate all possible ionospheric threats, because ionospheric gradients are not observable to the ground monitor if they impact the satellite-to-ground lines of sight with the worst-possible geometry and velocity. This paper proposes an algorithm called position-domain geometry screening to remove potentially hazardous satellite geometries under worst-case ionospheric conditions. This is done by inflating one ormore integrity parameters broadcast by the ground facility. Hence, the integrity of the system can be guaranteedwithout anymodification of existing avionics. This paper develops an algorithm that allows the ground station to conservatively estimate the worst-case ionospheric errors for Ground-Based Augmentation System users. The results of this algorithm determine which potential aircraft satellite geometries are safe and which are unsafe, and inflation of the broadcast vig parameter is used to make all unsafe geometries unusable for the Ground-Based Augmentation System. Although the elimination of unsafe geometries reduces system availability, this paper shows that acceptable availability for category I precision approaches is attainable at Memphis International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport while guaranteeing system integrity under anomalous ionospheric gradients.

Evolving the Memphis aerotropolis

As the world's busiest cargo airport for the last 17 years, Memphis International Airport is ideally positioned to become North America's first true aerotropolis. Coined by Dr John Kasarda of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the word ‘aerotropolis’ is defined as a community that grows, or is even created, with an airport as its economic engine. Today, in Memphis, business leaders, elected officials, economic development agencies and the Airport Authority are all working in concert to ensure that the opportunity for Memphis to take a leadership role in this new type of economic community is not missed. This paper examines the history of Memphis as a centre of distribution, the present economic impact of distribution and the efforts underway to pave the community's path for the future.

Effect of Surface Surveillance Data Sharing on FedEx Operations at Memphis International Airport

Airlines can optimize surface operations using real-time surface surveillance data. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technology Development Office (formerly Safe Flight 21 and Surface Technology Assessment) began examining the operational impacts of surface surveillance data sharing in current and future FAA tools. This study investigates the operational impact of surface surveillance data provided to Federal Express (FedEx) at Memphis International Airport (MEM) through a joint FAA/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) project. We first use an unexpected loss of surface surveillance data as an opportunity to gauge impacts. The analysis measures changes in taxi-out times, queue lengths, and departure rates before, during, and after the surveillance outage. We repeat the analysis comparing a baseline period before implementation of surface surveillance with a post-implementation period. Analyses of both data sets displays a reduction in taxi-out times and indicates an increase in effective departure capacity (approximately 5–10 aircraft per hour greater) during times when surveillance was available.

A Comprehensive System for Measuring Wake Vortex Behavior and Related Atmospheric Conditions at Memphis, Tennessee

Models of vortex behavior as a function of atmospheric conditions are being developed in an attempt to improve safety and minimize unnecessary airport capacity restrictions due to wake vortices. Direct measurements of vortices and the relevant meteorological conditions in an operational setting, which would serve to improve the understanding of vortex behavior, are scarce and incomplete. A comprehensive vortex, meteorological, and aircraft measurement system has been constructed at Memphis International Airport and operated in two 1-month periods during 1994 and 1995. A 10.6 µm continuous-wave (CW) coherent lidar was used to measure vortex parameters with high fidelity. This lidar features a number of improvements over previous systems, including an automatic vortex detection and tracking algorithm to ensure efficient scanning. Meteorological data were collected from a 45 m instrumented tower, balloon soundings, a wind profiler/radio acoustic sounding system (RASS), sonic detection and ranging (SODAR), and other sensors. This paper presents ensemble distributions of the conditions under which the over 500 aircraft were measured, and samples of vortex and atmospheric measurements. These data will be compared with theoretical predictions of vortex behavior as part of the development of an operational system designed to reduce aircraft spacings in the terminal area.

Effect of jet aircraft noise upon [formula omitted] adrenocortical response to ACTH in feral [formula omitted

Paired adrenals from feral male Mus musculus trapped from fields adjacent to the Memphis (TN) International Airport and from suitable control areas were incubated in the presence or absence of ACTH. Incubation media were assayed fluorometrically for corticosterone. Control animals exhibited lower basal secretion rates of corticosterone when compared to their noise exposed counterparts. However, ACTH elicited a significantly greater increase in corticosterone secretion in controls as compared to the noise exposed group. The data suggest a noise related decline in adrenal cortical responsiveness to ACTH.

Effects of Noise on Feral Populations of Mus musculus

House mice, Mus musculus, were snap-trapped from two similar fields near Memphis International Airport, Shelby County. Tennessee, the only apparent difference being presence or absence of low-flying aircraft. Airport field noise levels ranged from 80 to 120 dB while rural field levels ranged from 80 to 85 dB. Mice from the airport field had significantly larger adrenal glands than those of the rural field. To determine if noise was the causative stressful factor, mice collected from the rural field were subjected to recorded jet noises at 105 dB in the laboratory for 2 wk. The experimental group had significantly larger adrenals than those of a control group.