Modeling and optimization of the terminal control area with holding unit

Aiming at the problem of resource allocation for departure flights at congested airports, this research explores the optimal configuration of holding units in the terminal control area (TCA). Similar to the job-shop scheduling problem, this problem is solved through a max-plus model with additional constraints. In particular, two optimization models are constructed, in which air segments, departure fixes and holding units are explicitly modeled. Based on the realistic airspace network selected, the proposed models are tested using actual flight data. The experimental results show that the models proposed have better qualities compared with the other methods.