Comparison of algorithms for synthesizing weather avoidance routes in transition airspace

This paper investigates the problem of synthesizing weather avoidance routes in the transition airspace - from approximately 200 nmi range to the metering fixes of an airport. The problem is motivated by the desire to maximize the capacity of today's airspace. The future of the National Airspace System (NAS) requires that airports accommodate greater capacity, and the hazardous weather avoidance problem is perhaps one of the most challenging limiting factors. Three methods are compared to current-day operations. Emphasis is placed on a comparison of the arrival traffic weather avoidance routing and metrics associated with such routes. Actual weather avoidance paths (baseline) are compared to three types of solutions: variations of the Standard Arrival Routes (STARs), a geometric optimization solution synthesizing multiple non-intersecting routes, and a Free Flight approach in which aircraft fly weather avoidance routes using a "greedy" prioritization method. The solutions indicate that increases in capacity over today's NAS are achievable, but they are limited by the method, the required supporting infrastructure, and the severity of the weather.