A 4D trajectory generation infrastructure tool for controller working position

Abstract

Aircraft trajectory prediction refers to an estimate of the future positions of a flight for a given look ahead time. In the context of achieving safe and seamless traffic management, efficient and modular trajectory prediction tools will be the crucial functions in future trajectory based operations. The main objective of this paper is to present a highly scalable trajectory generation infrastructure (TGI) that is capable of predicting 4D trajectories for given initial conditions and flight plans, detecting conflicts and providing separation maneuvers, avoiding restricted regions declared as NOTAM, calculating air sector entry/exit and occupancy times. The proposed TGI includes advanced aircraft performance models based on BADA (Base of Aircraft Data), standard navigation functions, standardized interface for operational rules of airspace inputs (i.e. airports, navaids, fixes, Standard Instrument Departure Route (SID), Standard Arrival Route (STAR) procedures), trajectory control algorithms, conflict detection functions and conflict resolution action library. The developed tool provides a comprehensive platform for air traffic control research, and the its functions are explained throughout this paper.