Performance analysis of arrival management with 3D paths and speed control

This paper describes a trajectory-based arrival management concept that integrates the use of advanced flight management systems (FMS) and advanced air traffic management (ATM) automation tools. This concept, termed the 3D path concept, is a key near-term step that enables trajectory-based operations in a voice communications environment. When applied to arrival management, the ground-based automation system computes an optimal arrival schedule at the meter fixes and runways and selects trajectories that meet the schedule and ensure separation. These 4-D trajectories are cleared prior to top of descent (TOD) and provide necessary delay in the form of cruise and descent speed changes, combined with lateral path adjustments when needed. The trajectories are flown by the aircraft's FMS with accurate navigation performance and optimized vertical profiles, which is generally not feasible today due to the use of open-ended vectors. The analysis of the performance of this arrival management concept using the Boeing trajectory analysis and modeling environment (TAME) is presented in this paper. TAME uses the eurocontrol base of aircraft data (BADA) to represent aircraft performance for the fast-time simulation. The 3D path concept is applied to operations in the Houston airport area, and arrivals into Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are modeled using TAME. The results illustrate the influence of path and speed discretization, wind, trajectory prediction and navigation performance. Additionally, results showing the overall performance of the IAH arrival flow using 4 and 6 arrival meter fixes are presented, showing the increased airport throughput that can be achieved when airspace constraints are removed.