Optimal Four-Dimensional Route Searching Methodology for Civil Aircrafts

Abstract

The work is devoted to the analysis of problems in the implementation of four-dimensional navigation routes in civil aviation, the determination of the minimum necessary requirements for a decision support system that would provide a solution to these problems, as well as the development of a methodology for optimal four-dimensional route searching to provide the crew with a set of necessary information on possible flight strategies in case of difficult weather conditions. In the course of the work, the analysis of discrete and continuous optimization methods, as well as methods of operational trajectory planning has analyzed. The developed methodology for the optimal four-dimensional route searching is based on the A-star method of graph theory using the cellular decomposition of three-dimensional airspace. The methodology provides solutions for 4 optimization criteria’s, takes into account the influence of wind conditions and no fly zones, as well as the aircraft performances. In the conclusion of the work, experimental results are presented that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.