Wind-Based Robust Aircraft Route Optimization using Meteorological Ensemble Prediction Systems

A major challenge for Trajectory-Based Operations is the existence of significant uncertainties in the models and systems required for trajectory prediction. In particular, weather uncertainty has been acknowledged as one of the most (if not the most) relevant ones. In the present paper we present preliminary results on robust trajectory planning at the pre-tactical level. The main goal is to plan trajectories that are efficient, yet predictable. State-of-the-art forecasts from Ensemble Prediction Systems are used as input data for the wind field, which we assume to be the unique source of uncertainty. We develop an ad-hoc optimal control methodology to solve trajectory planning problems considering uncertainty in wind fields. A set of Pareto- optimal trajectories is obtained for different preferences between predictability and average efficiency; in particular, we present and discuss results for the minimum average fuel trajectory and the most predictable trajectory, including the trade-off between fuel consumption and time dispersion. We show how uncertainty can be quantified and reduced by proposing alternative trajec- tories.