Colloquium: Thijs Scheffers (C&O)

This paper explores the impact of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) data on air traffic control (ATC) procedures, focusing on operational efficiency and safety margins in lower airspace. Through 64 simulation scenarios, the study evaluates how varying airspace density, separation buffer size, and vertical error in ADS-C data influence operational metrics, such as fuel burn, track miles, and flight time. The simulations utilize synthetic ADS-C data with a 100\% equipage rate, providing insights into the application of ADS-C in managing intersecting flight trajectories. Results indicate that the separation buffer size is the most influential factor, with smaller buffers leading to significant reductions in fuel consumption, track miles, and flight time, as compared to the baseline, though at the expense of increased conflict risks. Airspace density demonstrated trends where higher densities showed the greatest fuel savings but also more conflicts, highlighting a trade-off between operational efficiency and safety. These findings support the role of ADS-C in enhancing predictability and trajectory management, which are key to Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO). By improving the accuracy of aircraft intent and trajectory data, ADS-C can optimize flight paths and enable more efficient air traffic management. However, careful consideration of separation buffers and airspace density is essential to balance efficiency with safety.

Supervisor: Joost Ellerbroek and Jacco Hoekstra