Evaluation of Airfield Performance by Simulation

Through the application of computerized simulation techniques, the future operation of a proposed airport can be evaluated prior to construction. TAMS developed and used a fast-time computer simulation to evaluate the performance of the proposed Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport. This simulation traces each aircraft operation between arrival and departure, including runway, taxiway, and gate selection and occupancy under various operating conditions. Output of the program provides total travel time and cost per aircraft type and by airline, delay times and location, facility utilization frequencies, and a computer-generated motion picture showing aircraft ground movements.