Four-dimensional trajectory optimization model with priority in continuous time period

This article aims to mitigate the imbalance of capacity and flow in airspace. Targeting to minimize the total delay time, taking the real-life sector operation and aircraft flight rules into consideration, with constraints of sector capacity limit and minimal time interval, the principle to prioritize aircraft when the delay occurred was raised. A trajectory planning model with the priority of aircraft was then established in the model of trajectory based on operation in a continuous period. The traditional genetic algorithm was also improved through the strategy of enhanced elitism preserving and double-stranded chromosome structure. Case studies indicated that the proposed trajectory planning model and solution algorithm have contributed to, over the two periods, an average reduction of 71.77 % in the delay time on optimization effect, and an increase of 19.48 % in the calculation speed. In this case, the model appears to, in a relatively short time, provide a trajectory allocation strategy with security and timeliness, for aircraft operated in consecutive periods. As a result, the sectors can operate without any conflicts while effectively reducing flight delays, minimizing the traffic congestion and potential accidents, so as to take the most advantages of sector resources allocation.