Continuous Descent Operations (CDOs) can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. However, their implementation in constrained airspace is often limited by operational procedures and altitude restrictions. Previous studies have evaluated CDO performance under idealised conditions, resulting in insufficient quantification of the effects of real operational constraints. This study investigates how operational constraints on arrival routes influence aircraft vertical descent profiles and the resulting fuel consumption. A framework is introduced that is capable of quantifying fuel consumption across different descent trajectories. The simulation-based framework enables the analysis of incremental modifications to operational restrictions, including changes to level-off altitude and duration. The methodology is applied to arrival traffic at Schiphol Airport, using a dataset of over 8,000 recorded arrivals from the Aircraft Condition Monitoring System (ACMS) and one month of Eurocontrol Demand Data Repository (DDR) traffic data. Level-off segments between Top of Descent (TOD) and the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) are identified and linked to waypoint-based restrictions specified in Letters of Agreement (LoAs) and the Route Availability Document (RAD). The BlueSky air traffic simulator and the Base of Aircraft Data (BADA) 3.16 performance model are used to quantify the fuel impact of modified descent scenarios. The results show a clear relationship between level-off duration, altitude constraints, and fuel consumption. Higher level-off altitudes and shorter durations consistently reduce fuel burn. Regression analysis of recorded flights confirms these trends. A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) based route assessment identifies arrival routes with the greatest potential to reduce fuel consumption, while taking into account operational complexity. The findings show that measurable fuel savings can be achieved through targeted adjustments in airspace restrictions without requiring a complete redesign of the airspace.
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This report aims to detail the design process and final design for a Search and Rescue (SAR) drone that will search for victims under collapsed buildings. Firstly, the objectives and requirements for the drone system are given by the overall mission objectives. Then a detailed description of the design for each subsystem is presented. This is followed by an overview of the combined and integrated system. Subsequently, a performance analysis and a use case example of the system are given to indicate how the drone will perform during a mission.
Furthermore, the Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) characteristics are displayed together with an overview of how sustainability has been integrated into the design. The plan for how further development and eventual production will be tackled is proposed. The
operational aspect is also discussed. The report finishes with an overall financial evaluation of the product and the main conclusions and recommendations found during the design process. The report is a continuation and overview of the work done and detailed in the Project Plan,
Baseline Report and Midterm Report by Bergmans et al. [2–4]... ... Read more