ABSTRACT
During peak traffic periods, the current air transportation system around terminal areas is impaired by flight inefficiencies, such as frequent vectors and level segments, often at low altitudes. This increases the noise, fuel consumption, and emissions. In consideration of forecasted increases in air traffic demand, Europe’s Single European Sky ATM Research Program (SESAR) and the United States’ Next-Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative focus on developing new air traffic management (ATM) technologies, systems, and procedures, such as optimized profile descents, to mitigate these inefficiencies (Federal Aviation Administration, 2013; SESAR Joint Undertaking, 2013).
