Analysis of aircraft ground traffic flow and gate utilisation using a hybrid dynamic gate and taxiway assignment algorithm

j

empty gate (i = 1, . . ., m)

k

position index of restricted gate

l

ordinary gate between (l=1, . . ., n)

AGAP

Airport Gate Assignment Problem

AGRP

Aircraft Ground Routing Problem

AIP

Aeronautical Information Publication

ASDE

Airport Surface Detection Radar

ATC

Air Traffic Control

ATM

Air Traffic Management

BADA

Base Of Aircraft Database

FAP

Final Approach Point

FIC

Flight Information Centre

GA

Genetic Algorithm

HDG&TA

Hybrid Dynamic Gate And Taxiway Algorithm

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organisation

MoTa

Modern Taxiing

N_e

number of empty gates

PI

priority index of gate

SESAR

Single European Sky ATM Research

SIBT

Scheduled In-Block Time

SOBT

Scheduled Out-Block Time

SMAN

Surface Manager

SMR

Surface Movement Radar

TRACC

Taxi Routing For Aircraft: Creation And Controlling

TS

Tabu Search

X₀

initial position of the intended aircraft

X _i

taxiway points

P _i

possible parking positions in the solution set

1.0

INTRODUCTION

The rapid increase in the demand for air transportation over the last four decades has led to serious capacity problems that have introduced delays, congestion, extra operational costs, adverse environmental impacts and passenger dissatisfaction at major airports. Airport capacity refers to the capability to accommodate flight operations (arriving and departing traffic) in a specified period of time⁽¹⁾. Although airport capacity analysis requires a thorough investigation of the capacities of its airside and landside components, numerous studies have shown that physical and operational constraints on airside components (runway systems, taxiway networks and parking positions) primarily limit the overall capacity of the airport⁽²⁾. The efficient management of existing airside resources seems to be the most effective and practical approach to overcome these capacity and traffic flow problems⁽³⁾.

Aircraft parking position assignment and ground-movement planning processes are among the most critical and interrelated issues for the efficient management of airside resources, especially at major hubs. The first issue is referred to as the Aircraft Gate Assignment Problem (AGAP) and involves finding an appropriate assignment schedule for arriving aircraft to available gates at terminal buildings or remote parking stands in apron areas in order to improve certain performance criteria regarding aircraft or passenger operations⁽⁴⁾. The second issue is referred to as The Aircraft Ground Routing Problem (AGRP) and comprises routing...