Traffic analysis with fast-time simulations to evaluate delegation potentialities of sequencing operations

The major challenge facing ATC is to enhance air traffic capacity while providing safety improvement. Following the European EUROCONTROL ATM2000+ strategy, the "Evolutionary Air-ground Collaborative ATM Concepts" study of the FREER-FLIGHT project (EACAC) investigates the delegation of separation to the cockpit, in managed airspace as a near term application taking place in current ATC organizations. EACAC addresses en-route applications, mainly crossing and passing, and sequencing applications in Terminal Maneuvering Areas (TMA) including in-trail descent and merging operations. The present work aims at evaluating the aircraft sequence characteristics in TMA using fast-time simulations with SIMMOD in the scope of limited delegation, more specifically to provide an initial estimate of the proportion of traffic that could be delegated. The SIMMOD model is using Athens airport traffic previsions over the years 1997 to 2004. A criterion for an aircraft to be part of a sequence is defined. It is applied to the traffic on a subset of the arrival route network. Initial estimates of the proportion of traffic that could be delegated in order to reduce controller workload are provided. Two sets of assumptions regarding sequences that could be delegated are used. Ratios of up to 90% of aircraft that could be delegated are obtained.