Multiple-Phase Trajectory Optimization for Formation Flight in Civil Aviation

A tool is developed that is able to optimize the trajectories of multiple aircraft that fly in formation in order to obtain the minimum total fuel consumption. Several experiments are conducted to investigate the benefits of formation flight for commercial aircraft. Finally, also the influences of wind and delay on the trajectories of the...

Contrail Mitigation by means of 4D Aircraft Trajectory Optimisation

Aviation has a significant impact on the global atmosphere. Next to particle and gas emissions, the increase of cloud cover might increasingly contribute to aviation induced climate change. Water contained in the exhaust of jet engines locally raises the relative humidity levels sufficiently for contrail formation to occur. These contrails can...