A time-optimal aircraft-following model based on Pontryagin’s minimum principle

Abstract

A time-optimal aircraft-following model is introduced to address air traffic flow interference by velocity reduction. The objective function is set up as minimizing the recovery time during which the separation minima are not infringed and the separation of the air traffic flow returns to the initial separation at the terminal time. Pontryagin's minimum principle is used to solve the optimum aircraft-following velocity control law. An analytical minimum safe following separation is also provided under the time-optimal control law. The simulation results show that the precision first-order tracking accuracy is achieved without losing the separation.