LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

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October 18-20, 2010
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
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October 18-20, 2010
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Airside Capacity Evaluation Techniques
Matt Davis Assistant Director of
Planning Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport Matt.Davis_at_Atlanta-Airport.com
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Agenda

• Define the Problem
• Whats the Appropriate Tool?
• What are Your Data Sources?
• Challenge Your Assumptions
• Gain Consensus

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Define the Problem

• What Is Your Airfield Problem?
• What Do Your Stakeholders Think the Problem is?
• Is it in the Airspace?
• Other Airport Conflicts?
• Obstacles?
• Noise Abatement Routes?
• Is it on the Ground
• Taxi in/Taxi Out Delay?
• Runway Crossings?
• Apron Congestion/Gate Availability?
• How Do You Define Your Problem?
• Demand versus Capacity, Delay, Or Something Else?
• Air and/or Ground Delay
• Gate Utilization
• Payload/Range

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Sample Problems

• San Antonio Airspace
• San Antonio International Airport
• Runway 3-21 Vs Randolph Air Force Base 15-33
• Stinson Municipal ILS on Runway 14-32
• Kelly Air Force Base Runway 15-33
• Stinson Municipal Airport Runway 14-32
• San Antonio International Airport Runway 12-30

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• SAT Airspace Image

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Sample Problems

• Ground
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• 6th Runway?
• Air and/or Ground Delay versus Taxi times
• South Gate Complex?
• Gate Utilization/Availability
• Air and/or Ground Delay versus Taxi times
• Extension of Runway 9L-27R
• Payload/Range
• Extension of Runway 10-28
• Air and/or Ground Delay versus Taxi times vs. 6th
  Runway

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ATL 2009 Comprehensive Development Plan
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Gate Metrics
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Gate Metrics
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2008 ATL Gate Analysis
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2008 ATL Gate Analysis
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Gate MetricsAirfield Capacity vs Gates
Source Jacobs Consultancy, February 2008
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Gate MetricsAirfield Capacity vs Gates
Source Jacobs Consultancy, February 2008
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FAA ASV Delay Curve
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Whats the Appropriate Tool?

• Traditional Airfield Capacity Tools
• AC 150/5060-5a Airport Capacity Handbook (ACRP
  currently studying an update to this 1985
  document).
• FAA Airfield Delay Model (Another 1980s cheap
  solution)
• Airfield Simulation Models (Very Complex Very
  Expensive)
• SIMMOD, TAAM, Airport Machine and FAA Technical
  Center RDSIM. This is not an exhaustive list.
• Gate Scheduling Models
• Numerous commercial and proprietary software
  packages are available.

Airfield Models Are Data Sensitive. The Lack of
Quality Data Can Make Your Results Suspect.
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Tool Box

• Handbooks/nomographs
• (FAA Airport Capacity and Delay Advisory
  Circular)
• Analytical models
• (time-space diagrams, FAA Runway Capacity and
  Annual Delay models)
• Runway queuing models
• (LBs AirSim, Delays)
• Microsimulation models
• (SIMMOD, ADSIM/RDSIM, TAAM)
• Real-time simulation methods
• (FAA and NASA tower simulators)

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ATL ASV Calculation
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VTASIM Range of Results
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VTASIM Range of Results
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SIMMOD Sample

• Simmod Video clip

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What Are Your Data Sources?

• Analysis is only as good as the data from which
  it is derived from.
• Official Airline Guide (OAG) for Airline Schedule
  Information
• Does not include Cargo, Charter, Military or
  General Aviation Operations
• FAA - ASPM, Tower Counts, and ASR-9 records.
• RITA BTS
• Only includes those airlines that provide ACARS
  data to FAA
• No International Flight Information
• Airport Records
• Recorded Observations
• Sensis Aerobahn
• Passur

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VTASIM Range of Results

• AeroBahn clip

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Challenge Your Assumptions

• How Do the Airlines/ATC Respond to These Events
  at Your Airport
• IMC Conditions What is the split between VMC and
  IMC?
• CAT II and below how often are you in low
  visibility conditions?
• Snow/Icing Conditions Throw their hands up in
  the air and quit?
• What is the Impact of the Airlines Business
  Plans on Your Analysis?
• What Are the Little Things You Can Do To Make
  Valuable Improvements?
• End Around Taxiways
• Strategically Placed High Speed Exits
• New Runway Crossing Locations

There Are Several Small Improvements That Can Pay
Off In The Long Run.
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Gain Consensus

• Get Agreement Up Front on The Metrics You Will
  Use
• How Detailed Do The Results Have To Be?
• Delay in the Apron Areas, Runway Crossing, or
  Departure Queue
• Overall Taxi times. (Delay plus unimpeded taxi
  time)
• Whats Important and to Whom?
• How Important is Safety When You are Preparing a
  Benefit/Cost Analysis?
• How Do You Measure Safety if Your Concern is
  Efficiency?
• What if There is No Differential Savings in the
  Results, but the Outcome is More Predictable?
• Whats Your Definition of Acceptable Delay?