A what-if analysis tool for planning airport traffic

This paper presents the implementation and application of a prototype What-if Analysis decision support tool for airport traffic planning. The What-if Analysis tool is used to predict airport traffic performance during a future time horizon with forecast operating conditions and to design Departure Management Programs to mitigate the negative impacts of predicted demand/capacity imbalances. Application scenarios include dynamic weather imposing ground hold and/or Miles-In-Trial restrictions on airport departures. We demonstrate the use of the prototype for a historical traffic and weather scenario at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Future work includes enhancing the capabilities and user interfaces of the tool, and researching methods to predict future traffic management initiatives from forecast weather and traffic conditions.