Integrated aircraft and network optimization with airspace constraints

This study explores the relationship between airspace constraints and fuel consumption in aircraft design, and its impact on economics, performance, and the environment. To understand the impact of inefficiencies in air transportation and the effect of fuel efficiency, the study employs a coupled aircraft and network optimization algorithm based on the system-of-systems approach. The mission profile is characterized through the utilization of transponder data from ten of the busiest European airports and machine learning techniques. This information is used to derive the mission profile for each leg and incorporate it into the aircraft performance evaluation looking to provide a more realistic scenario. The optimization of the system-of-systems is solved through a combination of genetic and linear programming optimization algorithms, which consider crucial factors such as aircraft sizing, mission performance evaluation, and network flow optimization. The results of the study indicate that the integration of a realistic mission profile into the optimization process results in more conservative estimations of profit and direct operating costs.