Analysis of Satellite Air Terminal System

A systems approach is used to analyze the satellite air terminal concept for large metropolitan areas. A mathematical model formulates the problem as a fixed charge selection-allocation problem, and computes optimum locations for the satellites in the megalopolis. The analysis also enables comparison among the transportation modes used to transfer passengers between the satellite collection ports and the main airport. A heuristic algorithm is used in conjunction with the model to compute locations for collection ports when a rapid transit network is used to transfer passengers to the main airport. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the models, a satellite air terminal system is designed for the San Francisco Bay Area. Depending upon parameters and 1980 traffic forecasts, up to seven satellite airports and four satellite collection ports connected to the San Francisco International Airport by rapid transit link extensions to the Bay Area Rapid Transit System are found to constitute an optimum system.