This paper explores an analytic, geometric approach to finding optimal routes for commercial formation flight. A weighted extension of the classical Fermat point problem is used to develop a scalable methodology for the formation routing problem, enabling quick calculation of formation costs. This rapid evaluation allows the large-scale fleet assignment problem to be solved via a mixed integer linear program in reasonable time. Weighting schemes for aircraft performance characteristics are first introduced and then extended to allow for differential rates of fuel burn. Finally, a case study for 210 transatlantic flight routes is presented, with results showing possible average fuel-burn savings against solo flight of around 8.7% for formations of two and 13.1% for formations of up to three.


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    Title :

    Analytic Approach to Optimal Routing for Commercial Formation Flight


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2015-03-12


    Size :

    13 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    On Optimal Routing For Commercial Formation Flight

    Kent, Thomas E. / Richards, Arthur G. | AIAA | 2013



    A Geometric Approach to Optimal Routing for Commercial Formation Flight

    Kent, T. / Richards, A. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012


    On Optimal Routing For Commercial Formation Flight (AIAA 2013-4889)

    Kent, T.E. / Richards, A.G. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2013