Merging Flows in Terminal Manoeuvring Areas via Mixed Integer Linear Programming

Abstract : This paper focuses on the aircraft merging and sequencing problem at Terminal Manoeuvring Areas through the use of Controlled Time of Arrival (CTA). A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming formulation is proposed in order to minimize the number of non achievable CTAs while maintaining separation between aircraft with regard to the horizontal, wake-turbulence, and runway occupancy time constraints. Computational experiments performed on real-world case studies of Paris Charles De-Gaulle (CDG) airport show that the approach is viable.