Traffic Flow Management exploiting increased navigation performance

This paper describes a Traffic Flow Management stochastic optimization model that exploits increased navigation performance. The model integrates Traffic Flow Management strategies and avionics capabilities for the Next Generation Air Transportation System. It generates Traffic Management Initiatives that are designed to improve National Airspace System performance and considers best-equipped best-served prioritization schemes. This work extends previous approaches by considering Required Navigation Performance levels in the Super-Dense Operations airspace with probabilistic weather scenarios to minimize ground and en route holding delays. The paper also presents results of simulation experiments in which the feasibility of the optimization model was evaluated using several scenarios for a Super-Dense Operations problem around Chicago, including varied demand levels, Required Navigation Performance equipage distributions, and weather scenarios. The results show that without improved navigation performance system delays may increase up to five times with the expected threefold demand growth. Simulations also showed that the majority of delays may be eliminated with improved Required Navigation Performance equipage and Traffic Flow Management algorithms properly exploiting increased navigation performance.