Dynamic Approaches from Complexity to Manage the Air Transport Network

Workpackage E, which is addressing long-term and innovative research. The project was started early 2011 so this description is limited to an outline of the project objectives augmented by some early findings. Abstract – Much recent research activity has been devoted to the study and the development of theoretical models of complex networks. The SESAR WP-E project NEWO (emerging NEtwork-Wide Effects of inventive Operational approaches in ATM) explores the emergence of propagation phenomena in the air transport complex network by means of a mesoscopic modelling framework for analysing multi-component systems with complex interactions. The project studies the link between specific prioritisation rules applied to flights in cases of capacity shortfalls at nodes, and the network behaviour and stability, both locally and at network-wide scales. This paper outlines the modelling framework chosen, as well as the current regulatory framework in air transport and some preliminary ideas for prioritisation coming from complexity related literature and applications in other complex networks. Keywords-air transport; complexity; network management; emerging behaviour; delay propagation. I