Álvaro Rodríguez Sanz

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid | UPM · Sistemas Aeroespaciales, Transporte Aéreo y Aeropuertos

Purpose An important and challenging question for air transportation regulators and airport operators is the definition and specification of airport capacity. Annual capacity is used for long-term planning purposes as a degree of available service volume, but it poses several inefficiencies when measuring the true throughput of the system because o...

An important and challenging question for air transportation regulators and airport operators is the definition and specification of airport capacity. Airport capacity is rather difficult to describe due to its multi-faceted and dynamic nature, and it depends both on the available infrastructure, on external factors and on operating procedures. Mor...

An important and challenging question for airport operators is the management of airport capacity and demand. Airport capacity depends on the available infrastructure, external factors, and operating procedures. Investments in Air Traffic Management (ATM) infrastructures mainly affect airside operations and include operational enhancements to impro...

The integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in non-segregated airspace is one of the most demanding challenges that the aviation community must face in the years ahead. This article develops the flight-plan processing from a risk-based methodology. The risk-based methodology is underpinned by an in-depth safety analysis throughout th...

Purpose Airport capacity constraints lead to operational congestion and delays, which have become major threats to the aviation industry. They impose large costs on airlines and their passengers. Uncertainty in demand or unexpected events can cause a mismatch between capacity and demand, resulting in either capacity oversupply, with a decrease in e...

This paper reviews major research trends and opportunities in airport demand and capacity management from an economic perspective. Airport capacity constraints lead to operational congestion and delays, which have become major threats to the aviation industry. They impose large costs on airlines and their passengers. Uncertainty in demand or unexpe...

Accurate and reliable trajectory prediction (TP) is a fundamental requirement to support trajectory-based operations (TBOs). Particularly, the mismatch between planned and flown trajectories (caused by operational uncertainties from airports, Air Traffic Control interventions, Airspace Users behavior and changes in flight plan data) act as a driver...

Purpose Weather events have a significant impact on airport arrival performance and may cause delays in operations and/or constraints in airport capacity. In Europe, almost half of all regulated airport traffic delay is due to adverse weather conditions. Moreover, the closer airports operate to their maximum capacity, the more severe is the impact...

Purpose Airports are limited in terms of capacity. Particularly, runways can only accommodate a certain number of movements (arrivals and departures) while ensuring safety and determined operational requirements. In such a constrained operating environment, any reduction in system capacity results in major delays with significant costs for airlines...

Purpose This paper aims to analyse remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) integration in non-segregated terminal airspace. This work aims to identify the potential airspace volumes where a free operation of RPAS can be developed by analysing the airspace design of the terminal airspace. Design/methodology/approach The methodology considers five c...

The future Air Traffic Management (ATM) system will depend on Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) to accommodate the growing demand in air traffic. This system will expect aircraft to follow an assigned 4D-trajectory with high precision, meeting arrival times over established checkpoints with great accuracy. These time-constraints are called Target W...

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) is a capital issue for the majority of aviation actors nowadays. The integration of RPAS is an extremely demanding task that must be tackled by multiple standpoints: economic, social, technological or environmental among others. U-space is the answer from Europe to design the operation of multiple and differe...

Weather events have a significant impact on airport arrival performance and may cause delays in operations and/or constraints in airport capacity. In Europe, almost half of all regulated airport traffic delay is due to adverse weather conditions. Moreover, the closer airports operate to their maximum capacity, the more severe is the impact of a cap...

Airports are limited in terms of capacity. Particularly, runways can only accommodate a certain number of movements (arrivals and departures) while ensuring safety and determined operational requirements. In such a constrained operating environment, any reduction in system capacity results in major delays with significant costs for airlines and pas...

Passengers go through different handling processes inside airport terminal buildings. The quality of these processes is usually measured by the time passengers require and by the level of comfort experienced by them. We present an analysis of behavioural patterns in queues at check-in desks and security controls, which are two of the most critical...

The integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in non-segregated airspace is one of the forthcoming challenges in aviation. This paper develops a decision framework to determine the airways where RPAS should fly. The methodology defines three types of indicators: (1) static indicators based on the geometry of the airspace; (2) dynamic i...

This research assesses the impact of the integration of Continuous Climb operations (CCOs) on Air Traffic Control (ATC) workload. The methodology encompasses different modules: CCO, standard departing and arriving trajectories extracted from an external database, an ad-hoc algorithm for detecting and solving conflicts, and an ATC-workload model wit...

Purpose The current air traffic management (ATM) operational approach is changing; “time” is now integrated as an additional fourth dimension on trajectories. This notion will impose on aircraft the compliance of accurate arrival times over designated checkpoints (CPs), called time windows (TWs). This paper aims to clarify the basic requirements an...

Purpose – The current air traffic management (ATM) operational approach is changing; “time” is now integrated as an additional fourth dimension on trajectories. This notion will impose on aircraft the compliance of accurate arrival times over designated checkpoints (CPs), called time windows (TWs). This paper aims to clarify the basic requirements...

Jet engine malfunctions and pitot probe blocking are two safety events for which the formation of High Altitude Ice Crystals (HAIC) is a relevant contributing factor. Power loss and damage in jet engine under such conditions has drawn considerable attention of air transport authorities and industry. In turn, little interest has been paid to pitot p...

One of the most complex challenges for the future of aviation is to ensure a safe integration of the expected air traffic demand. Air traffic is expected to almost double its current value in 20 years, which cannot be managed without the development and implementation of a safe air traffic management (ATM) system. In ATM, risk assessment is a cruci...

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are new airspace users that require to be safely integrated into the non-segregated airspace. Currently, their integration is planned for the horizon 2025, but there is a lot of pressure by RPAS operators to fly as soon as possible. This research focuses on the development of a risk-based framework for the i...

Purpose This paper aims to assess the implications in safety levels by the integration of remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). The goal is to calculate the number of RPAS that can jointly operate with conventional aircraft regarding conflict risk, without exceeding current safety levels. Design/methodology/approach This approach benchmarks a c...

The expected growth of air traffic in the following decades demands the implementation of new operational concepts to avoid current limitations of the air traffic management system. This paper focuses on the strategic conflict management for four-dimensional trajectories (4DT) in free-route airspace. 4DT has been proposed as the future operational...

The current Air Traffic Management (ATM) functional approach is changing: ‘time’ is now integrated as an additional fourth dimension on trajectories. This notion will impose on aircraft the compliance of accurately arrival times over designated checkpoints, called Time Windows (TWs). In this context, we review the operational concept of 4D-trajecto...

The forthcoming integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) is one of the cmost omplex challenges for aviation. Europe draws to allow operating RPAS and conventional aircraft in non-segregated airspace by 2025, but this demanding perspective entails a thorough analysis of the different aspects involved. The RPAS integration in non-segreg...

The integration of remotely piloted aircraft system in non-segregated airspace requires a significant effort and new methodologies to underway this challenge. This paper develops a methodology to assess the impact of remotely piloted aircraft system integration by applying safety metrics in tactical planning. This methodology builds five modules to...

This research assesses the impact on Air Traffic Control (ATC) workload by the integration of Continuous Climb operations (CCOs) in a high-density Terminal Manoeuvre Area (TMA). The methodology encompasses different modules: CCO, standard departing and arriving trajectories are extracted from an external database, an ad-hoc algorithm detects confli...

The forthcoming integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) is one of the cmost omplex challenges for aviation. Europe draws to allow operating RPAS and conventional aircraft in non-segregated airspace by 2025, but this demanding perspective entails a thorough analysis of the different aspects involved. The RPAS integration in non-segreg...

System Safety Assessment is an integral part of the design and operation of aviation and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems. The aim of the System Safety Assessment is to identify, quantify and mitigate any and all risks; and to ensure that the system complies with the safety levels established by the regulatory authority. This paper presents an...

High-Altitude Ice Crystals (HAIC) constitute a hazard to commercial aircraft flying near deep convective weather due to jet-engine power loss and air data probes malfunction. HAIC can stick to warm metal surfaces in jet-engines and cause engine surge, stall, flameout and rollback, power loss, as well as engine compressor damage due to ice shedding....

Remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) present interesting and complex challenges for air traffic management. One of the most critical aspects of the integration of RPASs in non-segregated airspace is safety assessments. This paper lays out a methodology for estimating the minimum protection distance (MPD) that is required to avoid potential con...

Continuous climb operation is an operational concept that allows airlines to perform an optimal departing trajectory avoiding air traffic control segregation requirements. This concept implies the design and integration of air traffic flows for the sake of safety performance. This paper designs a new conflict-detection air traffic control tool base...

Air transport planning takes new technologies, strategies, and procedures into consideration when optimizing both trajectory and air traffic management. Continuous Climb operations (CCO) are new optimal departing trajectories that minimize fuel consumption, emissions, and noise levels within the vicinity of airports. In contrast with previous resea...

The occurrence of Losses Of Separation between aircraft in an airspace that could lead to Mid Air Collisions (MAC) is of major concern to Air Traffic Management. This paper uses an innovative approach to develop Safety Performance Functions to predict the occurrence of losses of separation. This will improve the safety conditions under which airlin...

The efficient and safe introduction of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in non-segregated airspace re-quires a thorough assessment of all operational elements. In this paper, we dealt with the safety problem thatarises from the integration of RPAS jointly with conventional aircraft in non-segregated airspace. The authorspropose a framework and...

Continuous Climb Operations (CCO) enable aircraft to execute optimal departing trajectories. However, current airspace design may not allow the integration of CCO due to incompatibility with air traffic flow. This paper lays out a new conflict risk model and assesses the impact of CCO in complex airspace. In this document, conflict risk is defined...

Air traffic networks are highly dependent on airport arrival processes, which are common triggers for capacity constraints and delay propagation. Arrival Manager tools aim to improve arrival flows at airports. To do so they need reliable, accurate assessments of potential congestion and delay issues. This paper sets out a methodology for predicting...

La introducción segura y eficiente de los Sistemas de Aeronaves Pilotados en Remoto (RPAS) en un espacio aéreo no segregado requiere un análisis en profundidad de todos los aspectos operacionales involucrados. Este artículo analiza el impacto que tiene la integración de RPAS junto a aeronaves convencionales sobre la seguridad operacional. La metodo...

Purpose The use of the 4D trajectory operational concept in the future air traffic management (ATM) system will require the aircraft to meet very accurately an arrival time over a designated checkpoint. To do this, time intervals known as time windows (TW) are defined. The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology to characterise these TWs...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of conflict-resolution algorithms between Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) and conventional aircraft. The goal of the conflict-resolution algorithm is to estimate the minimum protection distance (MPD) which is required to avoid a potential conflict. Design/methodology/approac...

The full benefits of Continuous Climb Operations (CCO) are realised when CCO are performed without interruption. However, CCO require safe departures that necessarily implies a reduction in capacity at high density traffic airports. This paper quantifies the capacity impact due to the integration of CCO (conflict-free with other departures and arri...

The aim of this paper is to describe the experience of the implementation of an educational project based on the model "challenge-based learning". This collaborative project focuses on the interrelations of demand, predictability and safety in air transport. Specifically, it involves three subjects of the Master's Degree in Air Transport Systems at...

This paper develops a functional analysis of the aircraft flow through the airport operational framework, focusing on the airspace-airside integrated system. In this analysis, we use a dynamic spatial boundary associated with the Extended Terminal Maneuvering Area (E-TMA) concept, so inbound and outbound timestamps can be considered. Aircraft opera...

La introducción segura y eficiente de los Sistemas de Aeronaves Pilotados en Remoto (RPAS) en un espacio aéreo no segregado requiere un análisis en profundidad de todos los aspectos operacionales involucrados. En este artículo, los autores abordan el problema de seguridad operaciones debido a la integración de RPAS junto a aeronaves convencionales....

Air traffic networks, where airports are the nodes that interconnect the entire system, have a time-varying and stochastic nature. An incident in the airport environment may easily propagate through the network and generate system-level effects. This paper analyses the aircraft flow through the Airport Transit View framework, focusing on the airspa...

Air traffic networks, where airports are the nodes that interconnect the entire system, have a time-varying and stochastic nature. An incident in the airport environment may easily propagate through the network and generate system-level effects. This paper analyses the aircraft flow through the Airport Transit View framework, focusing on the airspa...

Today, aviation is immersed in a shift from old-fashioned reactive and compliance-based safety approaches towards proactive and performance-based methods and tools. Stakeholders have to monitor, gather and analyse safety-related data and information in order to anticipate and predict actual and emerging safety risks. In this context safety analytic...

This paper presents a project, which aims to develop a low-cost Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), whose characteristics may allow educational institutions to improve the learning and evaluation methodologies applicable to a specific student. By collecting reliable electroencephalogram (EEG) data, the system will realize a cognitive state monitoring o...

Airports are intermodal nodes that can act as disruption drivers throughout the entire transport system. To ensure the robustness of the transport network, airport managers and policy makers need means to assess operational reliability and delve into its precursors. This paper develops a model to evaluate potential malfunctions of an airport, throu...

The current Air Traffic Management (ATM) functional approach is changing. Both SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) and NEXTGEN (Next Generation Air Transportation System) support the four-dimension (4D) trajectory implementation within their operational concepts. Apart from the three classical spatial dimensions, ‘time’ is now integrated as an...

Nowadays, technology is evolving towards the development of new controlling methods based in signals produced by our brain (Brain Computer Interfaces BCI). Applications of Brian computing Interfaces are also being explored in the field of aeronautics. This paper presents the initial steps of a work focused on the evaluation of brain patterns that o...

Los servicios de navegación aérea (ANS) son esenciales para la seguridad, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad de la aviación civil y militar, y para cumplir objetivos más amplios de política económica, social y ambiental. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la evolución y el statu quo del Proveedor de Servicios de Navegación Aérea (ANSP) ENAIRE a tra...

Fatigue is currently one of the hottest topic in transport safety research, since it has been recognized as one of the key factors in several industrial incidents/accidents. The aeronautical industry is currently working in developing standards and regulation for FRMS, Fatigue Management Risk Systems, with the aim of helping aeronautical organizati...

Airport operations are a complex system involving multiple elements (ground access, landside, airside and airspace), stakeholders (ANS providers, airlines, airport managers, policy makers and ground handling companies) and interrelated processes. To ensure appropriate and safe operation it is necessary to understand these complex relationships and...