Terminal Airspace Capacity Evaluation Model under Weather Condition from Perspective of a Controller

Abstract

A route network lays in the terminal airspace. The route network can be divided into multiple subnetworks according to sectors. When severe weather conditions occur, a controller takes measures to obtain safe operation of flights, such as navigation guidance or changing the availability of routes. In such circumstances, the route structure of a subnetwork is changed, and the controller’s attention paid to each route is also changed as well as the unit workload on it. As the subnetwork is handled by one controller, capacities of routes in it are associated. We find the way to determine the “related capacity” of a route in the conditions that whether topological structure of the terminal route network is changed or not. The capacity of the terminal route network calculated by network flow theory represents the capacity of terminal airspace. According to the analysis results, the weather factor reduces capacity of terminal airspace directly by reducing the capacities of routes blocked. Indirectly, it diverts controller’s attention to change capacities of other routes in the subnetwork.