Systems Optimization in Ultra Short Haul Air Transportation

Systems analysis techniques are employed in an operational and financial evaluation of the potential for ultra short haul air transportation. Direct and indirect costs are modeled as functions of vehicle size and level of service. Access/egress time is ana-lyzed using a probabilistic, random variate formulation of a total travel time model. Subdivision of point-to-point markets into region-to-point and intraregional cases is analyzed. Demand and market share sensitivities are predicted as functions of a multi-dimensional level of service quantity, where frequency of service, market subdivisions, multistep policies, and vehicle size are iden-tified as decision variables. A network example is solved using expected values from a more general probabilistic network model. Profit-seeking and market share maximizing fare policies are exa-mined. Extensions of the model are identified as methods of alter-native transportation technology analysis