New Search Space Reduction Algorithm for Vertical Reference Trajectory Optimization

• Main Authors: Alejandro MURRIETA-MENDOZA, Jocelyn GAGNÉ, Ruxandra Mihaela BOTEZ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Institute for Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli” - INCAS 2016-06-01
• Series: INCAS Bulletin
• Subjects: Flight Planning; Optimization; Reference vertical trajectory.
• Online Access: http://bulletin.incas.ro/files/murrieta-mendoza__gagne__botez__vol_8_iss_2.pdf
• ISSN: 2066-8201; 2247-4528

Burning the fuel required to sustain a given flight releases pollution such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and the amount of fuel consumed is also a significant expense for airlines. It is desirable to reduce fuel consumption to reduce both pollution and flight costs. To increase fuel savings in a given flight, one option is to compute the most economical vertical reference trajectory (or flight plan). A deterministic algorithm was developed using a numerical aircraft performance model to determine the most economical vertical flight profile considering take-off weight, flight distance, step climb and weather conditions. This algorithm is based on linear interpolations of the performance model using the Lagrange interpolation method. The algorithm downloads the latest available forecast from Environment Canada according to the departure date and flight coordinates, and calculates the optimal trajectory taking into account the effects of wind and temperature. Techniques to avoid unnecessary calculations are implemented to reduce the computation time. The costs of the reference trajectories proposed by the algorithm are compared with the costs of the reference trajectories proposed by a commercial flight management system using the fuel consumption estimated by the FlightSim® simulator made by Presagis®.