A Delay Analysis in Airport Engine-off Towing Operations Using Hierarchical Multi-Agent Path Planning

The increased pressure to reduce aircraft emissions and the growing demand for air travel causes airports to consider alternatives for fuel-inefficient aircraft taxiing. External towing tugs can be deployed to effectively reduce on-ground fuel burn of outbound aircraft. These new operations are likely to aggravate ground delays as a result of...

The Impact of Electric Aircraft Taxiing: A Probabilistic Analysis and Fleet Assignment Optimization to find Potential Cost- and Emission Reductions

On-board electric motors can be used to drastically reduce the fuel usage during the taxiing phase of aircraft, leading to cost reductions for airlines and lower amounts of harmful emissions. This study analyses the current state of this innovation and its potential impact on aviation. On a global level, full adoption of electric aircraft...

Modelling the Effects of Gate Pit-Stops on Apron Congestion

Demand for air traffic is growing worldwide. In order to accommodate this growth, existing infrastructure such as gates should be used more efficiently. One technique to increase gate utilization is by introducing gate pit-stops. Introducing gate pit-stops leads to additional towing movements which can potentially interfere with other traffic on...

Agent-Based Modelling of an Airport’s Ground Surface Movement Operation: Understanding the principles and mechanisms of decentralised control

Decentralised air traffic control shifts decision making to a local level, allowing decentralised controllers to focus on solving local conflicts. Since decentralised controllers have accurate local information at their disposal, they can adapt quicker and more efficiently to changing conditions. Consequently, it is suggested that the dynamics...

Finding the viability of using an automated guided vehicle taxiing system for aircraft

The taxi procedure at an airport refers to the surface movement of the aircraft between the parking position and the runway or vice versa. Nowadays, aircraft tend to taxi with the main engines, even if they are not optimized for it. Using an alternative suitable taxiing system that fulfills the requirements of the taxi procedure could be a...