Optimizing Key Parameters of Ground Delay Program with Uncertain Airport Capacity

The Ground Delay Program (GDP) relies heavily on the capacity of the subject airport, which, due to its uncertainty, adds to the difficulty and suboptimality of GDP operation. This paper proposes a framework for the joint optimization of GDP key parameters including file time, end time, and distance. These parameters are articulated and incorporated in a GDP model, based on which an optimization problem is proposed and solved under uncertain airport capacity. Unlike existing literature, this paper explicitly calculates the optimal GDP file time, which could significantly reduce the delay times as shown in the numerical study. The authors also propose a joint GDP end-time-and-distance model solved with genetic algorithm. The optimization problem takes into account the GDP operational efficiency, airline and flight equity, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) risks. A simulation study with real-world data is undertaken to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed framework. It is shown that, in comparison with the current GDP in operation, the proposed solution reduces the total delay time, unnecessary ground delay, and unnecessary ground delay flights by 14.7%, 50.8%, and 48.3%, respectively. The proposed GDP strategy has the potential to effectively reduce the overall delay while maintaining the ATC safety risk within an acceptable level.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7494213
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/5121625
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2017 Jixin Liu et al.
• Authors:
  • Liu, Jianwei
  • Li, Keqiang
  • Yin, M
  • Zhu, Xuanbing
  • Han, K
• Publication Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Serial:
  • Journal of Advanced Transportation
  • Volume: 2017
  • Issue Number: Article ID 7494213
  • Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0197-6729
  • EISSN: 2042-3195
  • Serial URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2042-3195
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport capacity; Airport operations; Airport surface traffic control; Aviation safety; Optimization; Schedules; Traffic delays
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01647201
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 27 2017 10:20AM