Modeling of Ground Handling Processes in Simio Software

Abstract

More and more attention is being devoted to increasing the capacity of airspace and airports (airport capacity) due to the increase in air traffic. The effects of the increase in global air traffic are felt not only when managing the movement of aircraft in the air, but also when performing operations at airports. An increasing number of airports must solve the problem of airport capacity. This problem can be solved by developing the airport infrastructure but it is extremely important to analyze processes at the airport. Airports have the necessary infrastructure to enable safe and efficient implementation of airport traffic. Airport traffic is divided into the movement of aircraft performing take-off and landing operations, the movement of aircraft during taxiing after landing and before departure and apron operations. The aircraft handling process is combined with the handling of passengers, luggage, mail and other cargo. Particular attention should be paid to the ground handling process and coordination between relevant entities. Ground handling includes activities performed when an aircraft is parked at an aircraft stand. Among the operations at the aircraft stand, one can distinguish several categories of services performed at the airport for airlines. There is a close relationship between aircraft service at an aircraft stand, taxiway and runway operations. Operations occurring in ground aerodrome traffic can be described as a sequence of operations elementary for aircraft movement in the airport area and on aprons. The organization of ground handling operations performed at an aircraft stand affects the moment of completion of ground handling and the issue of aircraft take off authorization. The identified aerodrome operations at the airport interact with each other to form a structure consisting of a series of activities occurring in parallel or in series. The article examines the process of ground handling of aircraft and includes an analysis based on real-time measurements of steps taken during ground handling. A model was developed and a ground handling model was simulated using Simio software. The developed model was verified on real measurements taken at an airport. An analysis of the duration of performance of individual activities was carried out for different types of aircraft. On this basis, the reliability of the model was confirmed and several simulations were performed. As part of the study of the results, critical paths were analyzed. The model will be used to introduce interference and analysis processes involving a stand to estimate the impact of interference on the timely execution of elementary operations.