Wind-Optimal Routing in the National Airspace System

摘要

A study analyzing the economic cost and bene t impacts of different ight routing methods in the NationalnAirspace System is presented. It compares wind-optimal routes and filed flight routes for 365 days of traffic, fromn2005 to 2007, in class A airspace. Routing differences are measured by flight time, fuel burn, sector loading, conflictncounts, and airport arrival rates. From the results, wind-optimal routes exhibit an average per-flight time saving ofn2.7min and an average fuel saving of 210 lb, compared to filed flight routes. In addition, the airport arrival rates at thentop 73 U.S. domestic airports do not show notable differences between wind-optimal routing and filed flight routing.nThe study shows an average of 29% fewer conflicts. Finally, wind-optimal routes have, at most, one high-altitudensector with increased sector workload than filed flight routes at any time instance.