Trajectory-Based Operations

The concept of Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) is a paradigm shift in air traffic management from traditional clearance-based control to trajectory-based control. It is intended to make flight operations more efficient and predictable, while maintaining operational flexibility. TBO relies on four dimensional trajectories that are managed by specifying a sequence of metering points, each of which is associated with a controlled time of arrival (CTA) that must be met by the aircraft within a specified time tolerance. In this research, we address the design aspects of TBO, such as the optimal number and location of metering points, and their impact on various system performance metrics (e.g., throughput and fuel burn).

People

Titilayo Fasoro, Hamsa Balakrishnan

Collaborators/alums: Sandeep Badrinath, Dun Yuan Tan

Publications

1. T. Fasoro and H. Balakrishnan. “High-Throughput Continuous Descent Approaches through Trajectory-Based Operations,” International Conference on Research in Air Transportation (ICRAT 2022), June 2022. [pdf]
2. D.Y. Tan, S. Badrinath, and H. Balakrishnan. “Analysis and Design of Trajectory-Based Operations under Wind Forecast Uncertainty,” CEAS Aeronautical Journal, 2021. [pdf]