Impact of continuous climb operations on airport capacity

Abstract

The full benefits of Continuous Climb Operations (CCO) are realised when CCO are performed without interruption. However, CCO require safe departures that necessarily implies a reduction in capacity at high density traffic airports. This paper quantifies the capacity impact due to the integration of CCO (conflict-free with other departures and arrivals) in a high density traffic airport. The methodology develops a scheduling algorithm, a conflict-detection and resolution algorithm, and Monte Carlo simulations. The scheduling algorithm calculates two schedules, one for departures and another for arrivals, considering the CCO Rate. The conflict-detection and resolution algorithm compares CCO and arrival trajectories to detect which aircraft pairs are in conflict. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) intervention required to solve the conflict is modelled by delaying the CCO take-off. Numerical simulations based on Monte Carlo techniques are used to analyse scheduling combinations that are statistically significant in terms of conflict, ATC interventions, total delay and capacity. The results show a 32% reduction in the maximum theoretical capacity with a CCO Rate of 100%. Despite the reduction, the number of CCO departures is above the maximum operational capacity (50% of the maximum theoretical capacity). This implies that with optimised scheduling it is possible for all departures to be CCO.