Multi-objective 4D trajectory optimization for online strategic and tactical air traffic management

Significant evolutions of aircraft, airspace and airport systems design and operations are driven by the continuous increase of air transport demand worldwide and by the concurrent push for a more economically viable and environmentally sustainable aviation. In the operational context, novel avionics and air traffic management (ATM) systems are being developed to take full advantage of the available communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) performance. In order to attain higher operational, economic and environmental efficiencies, the generation of 4-dimensional trajectories (4DT) shall integrate optimisation algorithms addressing multiple objectives and constraints in real-time. Although extensive research has been performed in the past on the optimisation of aircraft flight trajectories and very efficient algorithms were widely adopted for the optimisation of vertical flight profiles, it is only in the last few years that higher levels of integration were proposed for automated 4DT planning and rerouting functionalities. This chapter presents the algorithms conceived for integration in next generation avionics and ATM Decision Support Systems (DSS), to perform the multi-objective optimisation of 4DT intents. In particular, the algorithms are developed for 4DT planning, negotiation, and validation (4-PNV) in online strategic and tactical operational scenarios, and are conceived to assist the human flight crews and ATM operators in planning and reviewing optimal 4DT intents in high air traffic density contexts. The presented implementation of the multi-objective 4DT optimisation problem includes a number of environmental objectives and operational constraints, also accounting for economic and operational performances as well as weather forecast information from external sources. The current algorithm verification activities address the Arrival Manager (AMAN) scenario within a Terminal Manoeuvring Areas (TMA), featuring automated point-merge sequencing and spacing of multiple arrival traffic in quasi real-time.