Supporting Trajectory Based Operations in Aerodrome Control: Supporting the Timing of the Take-off Clearance

The introduction of Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) is set to change the operation on all levels of Air Traffic Control (ATC), including aerodrome control. Here, adherence to a planned four-dimensional trajectory is important to achieve a stable operation. At the same time, this concept provides possibilities for support tools to be used in...

Dynamic Target Time Management with Reinforcement Learning: A case study on Zurich short-haul regulated arrivals

This Master Thesis investigates the possible improvements to the Target Time Management concept to optimize the arrival flows for SWISS International Airlines. The aim is to improve operational performance based on the current model used, as well as prove that Target Time Management constitutes a valuable system to improve operations in a...

Machine learning based trajectory prediction to support demand forecasting: A Transformer Neural Network Approach

Air traffic sector demand and capacity balancing is an important process to enable safe and efficient flight execution. In current operations, demand and capacity are determined based on schedules and flight plans. In reality, disruptions to flights create a different situation that may not have been anticipated by the Air Navigation Service...

Decision Support Tool for Time-Based Separation under Fixed Approach Trajectories in Approach Control: Increasing the Efficiency of Approach Control

The Dutch Air Traffic Control has implemented fixed approach trajectories within approach control during night operations when traffic density is low. During the day, when traffic density is higher, vector-based operations are used. The Dutch Air Traffic Control aims to implement fixed approach trajectories when traffic density is high. This...

Detecting ATC commands in ADS-B data: An exploratory research into ADS-B data to see if detecting ATC commands is possible

Automatic Dependent Broadcast-Surveillance (ADS- B) was introduced to increase the safety of air travel. Since then it has proven to be a useful source of air traffic data for academic research because it is publicly available. Another source of information are the communications between air traffic control (ATC) and aircraft. Methods are (being...

Implicit Coordinated Tactical Avoidance for UAVs within a Geofenced Airspace

This research presents the derivation, implementation and safety assessment of a velocity obstacle- based conflict resolution method to be used by UAVs flying within a horizontally restricted airspace by a geofence under the presence of wind. Two parameters indicating the safety of the applied conflict resolution method have been measured, i.e.,...

Agent-based modelling and simulation for quantification of resilience in air transport: The effects of a sudden and unexpected bad weather disturbance on conventional approach operations

Socio-technical systems consist of deeply interconnected and interdependent social entities and technical systems that collaborate to achieve a global goal. The individual characteristics and behaviours of each involved actor and their interactions define the resulting overall emergent system behaviour. Due to increased complexities in socio...

Development of an Evaluation Framework to Assess Airport Demand Management Strategies

In the current economy, many airports are operating close to their maximum capacity with high utilisation rates. This raises the need for airports to implement demand management measures. This need is further exacerbated when the capacity is further limited due to weather-based capacity shortfalls. Therefore, the development of an Evaluation...

Effects of Wind and Trajectory Uncertainty in a 4D Trajectory Management Interface: Bringing 4D Air Traffic Control Closer To Reality

As a result of the current evolution in the ATM system, a fundamental shift in the ATC work domain is foreseen from ad-hoc tactical to more strategic, 4D (i.e., space and time) trajectory management. Both the SESAR programme in Europe<br/>and the NextGen programme in the US envision a central role for the human operator, to be aided by high...

Probabilistic Quantification of Airspace Resilience

The resilience of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system to disturbances is required to maintain high operation performance. Before it can be improved, the resilience of the ATM system must be quantified. The measurement of resilience requires knowledge of a system reference state. This thesis proposes a novel methodology to detect disruptions...

Agent-Based Distributed Planning and Coordination for Resilient Airport Surface Movement Operations

Airport surface movement operations are complex systems that experience many types of adverse events which require resilient, safe and efficient responses. One regularly occurring adverse event is that of runway reconfigurations. Agent based distributed planning and coordination has shown promising results in controlling and maintaining...

A metaheuristic optimisation algorithm for network-wide 4D trajectory mid-term planning in a Trajectory Based Operations environment

To accommodate the fast growing air traffic in a safe and efficient way, an ATM paradigm shift from current Time Based Operations towards Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) is envisioned. TBO entails the exchange, maintenance and use of consistent 4D trajectory information for collaborative decision-making on the flight. This thesis addresses a...

Effects of Vertical Situation Diagram in Real-Time 4D Trajectory Management Interface on Control Strategies

With the current and expected growth of air traffic, the need for increased support for air traffic controllers from automation continues to grow. One method of improving air traffic management applies 4D trajectory management to control traffic in real-time. An interface applying this method only allowed for manipulation of trajectory in three...

Benefits of Direct Routing above Europe

As the amount of air traffic increases every year, the capacity of the current Air Traffic Control (ATC) structure is reaching its limit. Shifting the responsibility of aircraft separation from the ground to aircraft (free flight) eliminates the ATC constraint for aviation growth. Furthermore, free flight allows for direct routing of aircraft....

Free Route Airspace for Route Optimization

These thesis is the result of the study of the possibility of expansion of the two existing Free Route Airspaces (FRAs) in the portuguese airspace, creating a joint FRA, where the goal is to optimize the routes passing this airspace, making it more efficient and consequently more competitive. At a later stage, is also analyzed an union between...

Design of an Ecological Flow-based Interface for 4D Trajectory Management in Air Traffic Control

The concept of Trajectory Based Operations as proposed by the SESAR and NextGen projects seeks to enhance efficiency and increase airspace capacity by the explicit use of time as the control variable. Nevertheless, the Air Traffic Control system has too many unforeseen events to make it entirely automatic, and adequate decision-support tools...