Flexible runway use modeling using pairwise RECAT-EU separation minima

If we would take fuel consumption and noise annoyance into account in the runway allocation process,runway allocation can take place more efficiently, both in terms of fuel cost as well as noise annoyance. In this research, the focus is on the further development of a model in order to make the calculationsmore refined. Moreover, the improvements conducted in this research relate to the methodologies to compute the cost of the decision variables and the level of complexity of specific linear programming constraints in the optimization model. Consequently, the aim of this research is to answer the following research question: Can the performance of Standard Flex be further optimized by applying pairwise flight dependencies, while ensuring and contributing to a valid trade-off between runway capacity, noise emission, fuel burn and safety. By means of this research, the flexible runway allocation model has been improved on many aspects. The computation strategy of both objectives has moved from a reference aircraft based computation strategy to an analysis based on each unique aircraft on its own. This refined computational approach has resulted in a better understanding and modeling strategy of the operations that take place at an airport. Finally, the implementation of RECAT-EU separation minima has resulted in a reduction of 5-10% in overall separation times with respect to the regular ICAO WTC strategy, based on multiple air traffic demand mixture scenarios, based on a specific demand of flights?.