Four-dimensional multi-objective air traffic flow management optimisation

A 'gate-to-gate' Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) scenario is modelled in the form of a four dimensional multi-objective optimisation problem. The issues addressed include reducing uncertainty in aircraft trajectories, specifically long haul flights, sharing the burden of delays between small and large operators, dealing with conflicting constraints in a multi-objective problem and establishing an overall efficient ATFM system. Information relevant to ATM stakeholders, such as aircraft performance, flight plans, weather, aircraft arrival schedules, etc. will be integrated into the optimisation model. Individual flight performance objectives, including fuel usage, cost, on-time arrivals, etc. will also be incorporated with the model optimising flight profiles and trajectories based on speed, altitude and heading, for each aircraft. The simulation will seek a global optimum that considers all aircraft in the airspace. Increased information for improved decision making and equal penalties for small and large operators are some of the approaches taken. The results achieved support these approaches but also indicate the complexities associated with conflicting constraints in a large scale optimisation problem