Characterization of Tactical Departure Scheduling in the National Airspace System

Abstract

This paper discusses and analyzes current day utilization and performance of the tactical departure scheduling process in the National Airspace System (NAS) to understand the benefits in improving this process. The analysis used operational air traffic data from over 1,082,000 flights during the month of January, 2011. Specific metrics included the frequency of tactical departure scheduling, site specific variances in the technology's utilization, departure time prediction compliance used in the tactical scheduling process and the performance with which the current system can predict the airborne slot that aircraft are being scheduled into from the airport surface. Operational data analysis described in this paper indicates significant room for improvement exists in the current system primarily in the area of reduced departure time prediction uncertainty. Results indicate that a significant number of tactically scheduled aircraft did not meet their scheduled departure slot due to departure time uncertainty. In addition to missed slots, the operational data analysis identified increased controller workload associated with tactical departures which were subject to traffic management manual re-scheduling or controller swaps. An analysis of achievable levels of departure time prediction accuracy as obtained by a new integrated surface and tactical scheduling tool is provided to assess the benefit it may provide as a solution to the identified shortfalls. A list of NAS facilities which are likely to receive the greatest benefit from the integrated surface and tactical scheduling technology are provided.

Trajectory-Based Takeoff Time Predictions Applied to Tactical Departure Scheduling: Concept Description, System Design, and Initial Observations

“…A companion paper 9 provides an in-depth examination of tactical departure scheduling, and identifies shortfalls in present-day tactical departure scheduling operations. These shortfalls may be eliminated by reducing uncertainty in OFF time predictions.…”

“…Quantitative results are not yet complete, but they will include an analysis of OFF time prediction performance and an assessment of en route scheduling performance with particular attention to slot utilization and controller workload. Results from this initial field evaluation, along with findings from associated analytical studies, 9,18 will be used to refine the PDRC concept and decision support tools, and to improve the methodology for planned follow-on operational evaluations.…”

“…Tactical CFR precision requirements are significantly higher than for strategic TMIs. 9 Even so, the three-minute window seems rather imprecise when one considers that this equates to a 21-to-24 mile slot at the en route meter point.…”

“…Tactical departure scheduling is distinguished from strategic departure scheduling based upon scope (both temporal and geographic), precision requirements, and the decision support tools used. 9 Strategic departure scheduling primarily uses the Traffic Flow Management (TFM) tool suite while tactical departure scheduling is typically accomplished with the Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) tool.…”

“…8 Presently, en route tactical departure scheduling to meet CFR restrictions is often accomplished with the Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) decision support tool. A companion paper 9 presents a characterization of current tactical departure scheduling based on analysis of more than one million flights from operational TMA data sets. This in-depth analysis identifies shortfalls in present-day tactical departure scheduling operations and suggests that the shortfalls can be remedied by reducing the uncertainty in CFR takeoff time predictions.…”