Airport Research Center

 CAST Aircraft simulates the aircraft traffic at and around an airport considering all relevant components like infrastructure, rules, restrictions, and operational strategies. With CAST Aircraft new concepts and strategies can be rapidly evaluated in scalable levels of detail, for example to identify bottlenecks, plan resources or assess a system‘s capacity.

Key features

• Multi-agent fast time simulation of aircraft traffic
• High class 3D model ("the virtual airport")
• Schedule based traffic generation
• Dynamic aircraft stand allocation
• ATM - runway and traffic management
• Sophisticated routing and taxiing behaviour features
• Powerful analysis features and 3D animation

Technical facts

• Runs on a standard PC
• Microsoft Windows required

Overview

Central part of an CAST Aircraft model is the 3D infrastructure and environment including all desired elements. Using only a 3D/2D environment for modelling and simulation speeds up work, helps to analyse and understand, and eases communication. Various import and editing functions guarantee a flexible and quick modelling. A high detailed 3D model nowadays is not only mandatory to get highest attention from customers and decision makers, but is also used for a general presentation of an airport.

Like in reality the CAST Aircraft traffic generation is based on a central flight schedule handling system. Following the chronological course of the schedule, flights are performed. Delays and schedule deviations can be considered based on probabilities. Several functions enable the user to consider specific conditions and quickly generate scenarios.

A dynamic stand allocation receives all flight information and individually allocates aircraft stands. Several restrictions and priorities may be defined in order to get the real life stand utilisation.
Starting quickly with basic rules the CAST Stand Allocation allows to model complex allocation concepts considering even very detailed user defined properties and dependencies.

Operational concepts define how aircraft are taxiing and which runway is used. It is possible to define detailed rules or use default settings for the routing.

The routing model determines a realistic routing for each aircraft while considering restrictions and preferences. The runway sequencing is based on ATC rules and calculates the minimum required separations considering wake vortices, radar separations, runway occupancy times, departure separation and the individual properties of an aircraft.

Origins and destinations may be connected by a route network including other airports or can be represented by an airspace interface.

Further features of CAST Aircraft:

• Setup of runway and taxiway network by predefined modules
• Import of runway and taxiway network from CAD
• Schedule based generation of flights
• Dynamic gate allocation and aircraft routing
• Runway utilisation according to specific rules and restrictions
• Accurate calculation of delays, taxi-times and other process parameters
• Use of stochastic distributions

CAST Aircraft is based on state-of-the-art multi-agent technology and can be used stand-alone or as an integral part of the CAST product family.
The video recording function allows a fast and easy preparation of high quality videos, which can be used in presentations or demonstrations. Furthermore the program provides an user-friendly interface.

The main goal of using CAST Aircraft is to reduce cost for investments and operations, to speed up the decision making process and to guarantee smooth, safe and punctual operations. Please find some example applications and questions below:

How CAST Aircraft supports planning:

• Planning of infrastructure
• Layout Comparison
• Planning of construction measures
• Identify potential future bottle necks
• Speed up planning and decision processes
• Planning stand allocation
• Enhance capacity

How CAST Aircraft supports operations:

• Planning operations
• Test new procedures
• Calculate cost of operations
• Optimise taxi times
• Verify stand allocation
• Analyse de-icing strategies
• Enhance punctuality

How CAST Aircraft supports capacity questions:

• Determine runway capacity
• Determine maximum / ultimate runway capacity
• Determine practical capacity
• Determine coordinated capacity
• Reveal hidden capacities

Example questions:

• Which layout alternatives reduce delay?
• What is the demand for aircraft stands in x years?
• How does the optimal stand allocation concept for the next season look like?
• What is the capacity effect of an additional runway exit?
• What is the optimal position of a new runway exit?
• Which taxi routing concept leads to a maximum in punctuality?
• When are additional taxiways required?
• What is the most efficient taxi routing during construction?
• Are there bottle necks due to future traffic growth?
• At which point in time is an extension of the infrastructure needed (stands, taxi ways, runway)?
• What benefits do we gain in case of investment?
• What is the most environmentally friendly operational concept?
• What is the most efficient de-icing strategy?

These are only some examples of the various tasks solved by customers or ARC with the help of CAST. Please do not hesitate to contact us in order to discuss your individual tasks and questions.

References / Customers

CAST has been developed by users for users with partners like BAA, Frankfurt Airport, Zurich Airport, Eurocontrol and Airbus. CAST has a steady / rapid growing world wide user community of airports, authorities, universities, planners and consultants.

For more information please see the clients page or corresponding projects page.

Online presentation

View the Cast Aircraft Online Presentation including videos.

Download more information

Purchase CAST or book ARC's Consulting Services

To ensure the highest efficiency ARC does not only provide the CAST software, but on demand also offers consulting services and support in the application of CAST. ARC strives for a long term cooperation and sustainable product maintenance.

For more information click here