Derivation of representative air traffic peaks as standard input for airport related simulation

The high diversity in air traffic situations at airports worldwide complicates the selection of an appropriate set of operational cases for a general technology and procedure evaluation in airport related simulation. In this research, representative airport peak hour traffic situations are determined. Flight data from multiple airports is analyzed and traffic peaks are automatically detected and parameterized, taking into account arrival and departure movement shares for ten aircraft weight groups. A subsequent clustering process results in an optimal number of 16 characteristic peak types. These are representative peaks that provide a limited set of typical peak traffic situations of relevance for a large number of airports worldwide, which can be directly used as input for air traffic simulation, providing standardized traffic situations to ensure comparability and clarity.

► There is a need for airport traffic structures as standard inputs for airside simulation. ► This will enable general non-airport specific technology and procedure assessment. ► A cluster analysis based method is used to derive representative traffic peaks. ► Traffic peaks are defined by movement shares of aircraft weight groups. ► Results show 16 traffic peak types at airports worldwide.