TLOF final approach methodology proposal utilizing dual landing pads

Abstract

Vertiports in economically developed areas present the operation mode of multiple Touchdown and Liftoff Area (TLOF) pads, and the intersection and overlap of the final approach airspace between two adjacent TOLF pads in the vertiports is the basic problem confronted by multiple TLOF pads. The objective of this study is to design the final approach airspace structure of dual landing pads, so as to provide reference for the future design of the airspace structure of multiple landing pads. In this paper, the design scheme of the final approach airspace of dual TLOF pads is proposed, and it includes three different kinds of airspace structure with different proximity of dual TLOF pads and the final approach path design for each kind based on the multi‐branch approach strategy. Considering the constraints of the multi‐branch approach strategy and safe operation, the airspace design model is constructed to minimize the airspace volume and to develop algorithms that can realize the airspace design with different capacities and different proximity of dual TLOF pads. The results reveal the changing trend of airspace volume under different design capacities and different proximity of dual TLOF pads. It provides reference for the site selection of vertiports with dual TLOF pads, and lays a foundation for the design of the final approach airspace for vertiport with multiple TLOF pads.