A simulation-based method for estimating metroplex efficiency

The nature of metroplex operations is interdependencies among its component airports. The operational interdependencies require a system view to study metroplex operations and a system-wide coordination solution method to solve and improve metroplex issues. This paper developed a link-node simulation model to study three typical generic metroplex layouts: tandem, parallel, and crossing. By studying the impact of sharing fixes and system-wide scheduling metroplex operations in the given generic metroplex layouts, decoupling fixes and temporal coordination among airports can improve system efficiency in a certain level.