A Novel Approach to Measuring Arrival Efficiency in Multi- Regional Operational Benchmarking

Following the global air traffic recovery, fuel efficiency emerged as an overriding policy priority for the immediate future. While the global uptake of sustainable aircraft fuel or novel airframe and engine technology may require a further decade, air navigation can immediately support higher levels of operational efficiency. Previous research has shown that the arrival phase offers a significant benefit pool. This work-in-progress paper addresses the arrival phase as an entry-exit flow problem (entry into arrival airspace to landing). A successful performance monitoring measure can be abstracted to other phases of flight and ultimately to trajectory-based operations. In this feasibility study, the analytical work is based on open flight trajectories for a subset of airports studied within a multi-regional benchmarking project. A conceptual spatio-temporal model is developed to quantify the benefit pool as a deviation from the required spacing. This paper demonstrates the general feasibility of the approach. Distinct patterns can be identified on the basis of the use-cases highlighting the operational concepts deployed in Europe, the United Stats, Brazil, and Asia-Pacific. We find that there a higher benefit pools during peak times and estimate an intial substantial variation of -/+ 9-10 minutes for arriving traffic. This study provides guidance for the further development of the approach. The further validation of the use-cases can help to promote the approach as an indicator for measuring arrival efficiency within the international benchmarking community.