Aircraft-specific Trajectory Optimization of Continuous Descent Approach for Fuel Savings

Affiliation of Author(s):民航学院

Journal:2017 IEEE/SICE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SYSTEM INTEGRATION (SII)

Abstract:Continuous descent approach (CDA) is an aircraft operating technique enabling the execution of a flight profile optimized with low engine thrust and drag configuration, thereby reducing fuel burn and emissions during descent. However, due to lack of consideration of aircraft type, gross mass and meteorological parameters, the current generic design criteria does not allow the fuel saving potential of CDA to be efficiently utilized. In this paper, we propose an Aircraft-specific Trajectory Optimization Model to reduce CDA routes fuel consumption given different aircraft states and meteorological conditions. The model defines a transition airspace concept for generating alternative CDA routes, and incorporates a classic point mass flight dynamics model to determine the aircraft trajectory and fuel consumption. Subsequently, the simulated annealing algorithm with Monte Carlo simulation are used to evaluate the average fuel burn before and after optimization. To gain insight on fuel saving efficiency, a comprehensive transition area length and aircraft states sensitivity analysis is conducted. We found that the transition area plays an important role in CDA optimization, with the increasing of the transition area length from 5 nm to 20 nm, the average fuel savings percentages could be increased by 10.76% to 22.62%.

ISSN No.:2474-2317

Translation or Not:no

Date of Publication:2017-01-01

Co-author:Wang, Zhaohui,Tian Yong,wll

Correspondence Author:Victor

Date of Publication:2017-01-01