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A distributed scheduler for air traffic flow management

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Abstract

A system was developed to efficiently schedule aircraft into congested resources over long ranges and present that schedule as a decision support system. The scheduling system consists of a distributed network of independent schedulers, loosely coupled by sharing capacity information. This loose coupling insulates the schedules from uncertainty in long-distance estimations of arrival times, while allowing precise short-term schedules to be constructed. This “rate profile” mechanism allows feasible schedules to be produced over long ranges, essentially constructing precise short-range schedules that also ensure that future scheduling problems are solvable while meeting operational constraints. The system was tested operationally and demonstrated reduced airborne delay and improved coordination.

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Abbreviations

AMDT::

allowable maximum delay time

ARTCC (or Centers)::

Air Route Traffic Control Centers

ATAs::

actual times of arrival

CTAS::

Center-TRACON Automation System

DP::

“dynamic planner”

DS::

distributed scheduler

ETAs::

estimated times of arrival

FAA::

Federal Aviation Administration

FCFS::

first-come, first-served

McTMA::

Multi-center Traffic Management Advisor

MiT::

miles-in-trail

NASA::

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NextGen::

next generation air transportation system

nmi::

nautical miles

PHL::

Philadelphia International Airport

RTA::

required time of arrival

SESAR::

Single European Sky ATM Research programme

SPDP::

“single point DP”

TMA::

traffic management advisor

TMCs::

traffic managers

TRACON::

Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities

ZBW::

Boston Center

ZDC::

Washington Center

ZNY::

New York Center

ZOB::

Cleveland Center

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Author notes

  1. Steven J. Landry

    Present address: School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 315 N. Grant St., West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Ames Research Center, M/S 210-6, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA

    Steven J. Landry, Todd Farley & Ty Hoang

  2. Methods Corporation, English Creek, NJ, USA

    Brian Stein

Authors
  1. Steven J. Landry
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  2. Todd Farley
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  3. Ty Hoang
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  4. Brian Stein
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Correspondence to Steven J. Landry.

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Landry, S.J., Farley, T., Hoang, T. et al. A distributed scheduler for air traffic flow management. J Sched 15, 537–551 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10951-012-0271-3

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