Flexible Runway Scheduling for Complex Runway Systems: Using a Multi-Objective Optimization

Runway usage at complex airports is currently prescribed by a preference list focusing on minimizing noise and providing a manageable flow for ATC. However, fuel burn and the demand of flight is not considered. This study proposes a flexible runway scheduling model and is an improvement of the current flexible runway allocation model. The model is able to assign continuous delay to the scheduled flights and by changing the decision variables a new separation constraint is proposed to accurately model complex runway dependencies. A multiobjective optimization is performed for fuel burn and noise disturbance using Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP). The model is tested on Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AAS) for different scenarios. A fuel reduction of up to 7% is possible depending on the operational peak and O/D data. At the same time, noise violations are limited in the vicinity of the airport. This provides the opportunity to expand operations while complying with local noise regulations. Furthermore, the model can be used to explore operating strategies for different objectives for every runway configuration.Aerospace Transport & Operation