A regression model for terminal airspace delays

WOS: 000415149800005 Air Traffic Management (ATM) research generally focuses on achieving a safer, more effective and economical air traffic system. The current airspace system has become increasingly strained as the demand for air travel has steadily grown. Innovative, proactive and multi-disciplinary approaches to research are needed to solve flight congestion and delays as a consequence of this rapid growth. As a result of this growth, air traffic flow becomes more complex, especially in Terminal Airspaces (TMA) where climb and descent manoeuvres of departing and arriving flights take place around airports. As air traffic demand exceeds the capacity in a TMA, the resultant congestion leads to delays that spread all over the system. Therefore, the reduction of delays is critical for airspace designers to increase customer satisfaction and the perception of service quality. Numerous studies have been conducted to reduce delays within TMAs. This research focuses on defining the causes of delays quantitatively through statistical analysis. The first step was to create a fast-time simulation model of sample airspace for collecting delay data. After building up this model using the SIMMOD fast-time ATM simulation tool, simulation experiments were run to produce various traffic scenarios and to generate traffic delay data. The number of airports, entry points, fixes and flight operations in airspace and the probability of wide-body aircraft were considered as independent variables. The correlations between the considered variables were analysed, and the total delay data was modelled using a linear regression model. The findings of regression model present a statistical approach for airspace designers and air traffic flow planners. Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission [1203F052] This study was supported by Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission under grant no: 1203F052

New directions for air traffic control simulators: A discussion to guide the selection and renovation of simulators

WOS: 000317869800003 The authors have recent experience of the specification, procurement, customisation and operation of advanced air traffic control simulator systems. This paper summarises the specification of the software and hardware components of air traffic control simulators within a framework of user needs and advances in simulation technology. Both the required conventional characteristics and the desired innovative features which can accommodate future requirements are defined using taxonomy within this framework. Considering the high investments and challenges involved in the acquisition and operation of modem simulators, the proposed classifications and approaches will provide important benefits to users when selecting or renovating their systems