MODERNIZING TRAFFIC FLOW SIMULATION MODELS TO ASSESS FAA NEXTGEN INVESTMENTS

摘要

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses computer models to quantify the impacts of technological, procedural, and infrastructure changes on the performance of the National Airspace System (NAS). The National Airspace System Performance Analysis Capability (NASPAC), the FAA's principal system-wide model, is a discrete-event simulation which represents the NAS as a network of airport and airspace queues. The paper describes the model and how it is being modernized to support ongoing evaluations of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and the Operational Evolution Partnership (OEP), the Agency's modernization plan. The paper goes on to present some validation results which compare NASPAC output to actual system response for eight historical days. Finally, the paper describes enhancements planned for the model over the next year.