some measures of aircraft performance on the airport surface

139 Pages·2010·5 MB·English

SOME MEASURES OF
AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
ON THE AIRPORT SURFACE
WILLIAM JOHN SWEDISH
May 1972
FTL Report R72-4
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
FLIGHT TRANSPORTATION LABORATORY
FTL Report R-72-4
May 1972
SOME MEASURES OF AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
ON THE AIRPORT SURFACE
William John Swedish
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SOME MEASURES OF AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
ON THE AIRPORT SURFACE
by
WILLIAM JOHN SWEDISH
Submitted to the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
on May 22, 1972 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Master of Science.
ABSTRACT
During the month of January, a survey was conducted at Boston
and Atlanta Airports to obtain input data for an interactive com-
puter simulation of runway and taxiway traffic being developed
by Lincln Laboratory. Data was collected for landings, takeoffs,
and taxiing; included were such items as runway occupancy times,
touchdown distances and times, liftoff distances and times, time
over a given taxiway stretch, taxiway intersection delays and
pre-takeoff delays.
This thesis presents the results of the analysis of that data.
Sample means and deviations of various parameters are given. The
results of further analysis, intended to disclose inherent patterns
in the data, are also discussed.
First, it was found that there were few statistically signifi-
cant differences in the speeds of different aircraft over the same
taxiway stretch, regardless of the aircraft type or direction of
travel. Also, length of the segment did not seem to have a uniform
effect on speed. It is felt, though, that the location of the seg-
ment does have a substantial influence on taxiing speed.
Secondly, touchdown distance was not significantly different
on runways equipped with VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator)
systems, when compared with non-VASI runways. Both exhibit sub-
stantial variance in the distribution of touchdown points.
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However, the distribution for VASI-runways presents a double peaking
not otherwise noticed, which may indicate a difference between a
VASI-assisted and an unguided landing.
Third, in analyzing runway occupancy times, it was found that
the time to a given exit did not statistically vary, in general,
regardless of the aircraft type involved. Overall differences
between types were noted, with average occupancy times increasing
with weight, but this is seen as being caused mainly by different
patterns of exit use. On takeoffs, very few differences in occup-
ancy times were found, regardless of type or runway.
Lastly, other analyses which could be performed on the col-
lected data are discussed, and suggestions are made for the plan-
ning of future surveys. In particular, a more automated data
gathering system, involving remote sensors on the runway, is
strongly recommended for greater accuracy.
Thesis Supervisor: Amadeo R. Odoni
Title: Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank my adviser,
Professor Amadeo Odoni. His sound advice has been of
great benefit to this thesis, and his interest, his
encouragement, and not least of all his patience, are
all deeply appreciated.
Next, thanks are due to Mr. Joseph Connelley at
Logan Airport and Mr. John Braden at Atlanta, for their
cooperation, support, and hospitality to us during the
survey. Their willingness to help went far beyond any
limits of duty.
I would also like to thank Tom McKim and Ann Drumm
for their help with the computer programs; Larry Giusti
of Lincoln Lab for setting up the survey; Vic Dolat,
also of Lincoln, for all of his help; and the fourteen
MIT students who were such enthusiastic, hard-working
observers.
Last but not least, sincere thanks to my good
friend Mrs. Karyn Watson, for all the work she put into
typing this thesis.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter No. Page No.
I Introduction 10
II Some Alternative Techniques 16
III Observations 24
IV Preliminary Data Ana.lysis 31
VI Taxiways 34
VII Landings 70
VII Takeoffs 102
VIII Conclusions 119
Appendices
A Airport Maps 124
B Conversion from Bearing to Distance 127
C Intermediate Points Used for Speed Measurement 131
D, Sample Data Sheets 132
Figures
1 Observed Velocity on the Runway, Plane Number 34 12
2 Landing Occupancy Times, All Types, All Runways 72
3 Landing Occupancy Times, All Types, All Runways 73
4 DC-9 Landing Occupancy Times, All Runways 74
5 DC-9 Landing Occupancy Times, Selected Runways 75
6 727 Landing Occupancy Times, All Runways 76
7 727 Landing Occupancy Times, Selected Runways 77
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Figures Page No.
8 Touchdown Distances, All Aircraft, Selected
Runways 94
9 DC-9 Touchdown Distances, Selected Runways 95
10 727 Touchdown Distances, Selected Runways 96
11 Takeoff Occupancy Times, All Types, All Runways 107
12 Takeoff Occupancy Times, All Types Selected 108
Runways
13 DC-9 Takeoff Occupancy Times, All Runways 109
14 DC-9 Takeoff Occupancy Times, Selected Runways 110
15 727 Takeoff Occupancy Times, All Runways ill
16 727 Takeoff Occupancy Times, Selected Runways 112
Tables
I Boston, Inbound vs. Outbound, All Taxiways,
by Type 38
II Atlanta, Inbound vs. Outbound, All Taxiways,
by Type 39
III DC-9, Inbound vs. Outbound, by Taxiways 40
IV 727, Inbound vs. Outbound, by Taxiways 41
V 707, Inbound vs. Outbound, by Taxiways 42
VI DC-8, Inbound vs. Outbound, by Taxiways 43
VII 747, Inbound vs. Outbound, by Taxiways 44
VIII DC-9 and 727, Inbound vs. Outbound, Specific
Taxiways 48
IX Boston, Comparing Types Over All Taxiways 49
X Atlanta, Comparing Types Over All Taxiways 50
XI 727 vs. DC-9, Outbound, by Taxiways 51
XII 727 vs. DC-9, Inbound, by Taxiways 52
Tables Page No.
XIII 727 vs. 707, Outbound, by Taxiways 53
XIV 727 vs. TOT, Inbound, by Taxiways 54
XV 727 vs. DC-8, Outbound, by Taxiways 55
XVI 727 vs. DC-8, Inbound, by Taxiways 56
XVII Comparing Types Over Different Taxiways With
the Same Length 57
XVIII Taxiing Speed, Mean and Deviation, by Type 58
XIX Boston, Taxi Speeds by Type and Distance 59
XX Atlanta, Taxi Speeds by Type and Distance 62
XXI Taxiway Intersection Delay Data 69
XXII Runway Occupancy Time, by Type, All Exits 78
XXIII Runway Occupancy Time, by Type, by Exit 79
XXIV Runway Occupancy Time, by Type, by Exit 8o
XXV Landing Occupancy Times, T-Test of Selected
Types 84
XXVI DC-9 vs. 727, BAC-lll, DC-8, by Exits 85
XXVII DC-9 vs. 737, 707, by Exits 86
XXVIII 727 vs. 707, DC-8, by Exits 87
XXIX Other Comparisons, by Exits 88
XXX Observed Frequency of Exit Use, Selected Types 89
XXXI Runway Touchdown Distances, by Type, All Exits 97
XXXII Runway Touchdown Distances, All Type , by Exit 98
XXXIII Runway Touchdown Distances, by Type, by Exit 99
XXXIV Departure Delays and Takeoff Times, by Type,
All Runways 113
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Tables Page No.
XXXIVa Variance of Touchdown Distances
91
XXXV Departure, Comparing Aircraft Types Over All
Runways
115
XXXVI Departure, Comparing Aircraft Types, by
Runways
116
XXXVII Departure, Comparing Heavy Jets, by Runways
117
XXXVIII Departure, Other Comparisons, by Runways
118
References
138
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Symbols
In using the computer to analyze the survey data, it was necessary
to substitute numeric codes for the aircraft type, runway, taxiway, and
heading. These codes are used in the. following tables, and so this
explanatory listing is provided.
Aircraft Runways
BAC-ll
DC-3
Martin 404
DHC-6 (Twin.Otter) 14 15R
B-707 5 15L
DC-8 6 22R
DC-9 7 22L
VC-10 8 27
YS-llA 9 33R -
C-130 10 33L
B-720
FH-22T Taxiways (Exits)
B-727
B-737 BOS: 1 North
B-747 3 C
CV-580 4 D
B-707-320 5 E
DC-8 stretch 6 F
cv-88o 7 G
Electra 8 H
single engine light plane 9 inner
twin engine light plane 10 J
business jet 14 N
heavy twin engine plane 15 outer
20 S (STOL)
Heading 21 T
30 33R
outbound 31 33L
inbound 40 4R
outbound and inbound 41 4L
ATL: 12
13
90
91
92
94
99