An Optimum Model for the Design of Airport Aprons

In the process of the optimum design of aprons, solutions should be found for problems and such issues as the optimum area and dimensions of the apron, including the passenger and the cargo the number and dimensions of the gates on the basis of different types of aircraft parking configuration aircraft simulation and arrangement in different time periods of the given day at the airport. In this research, a mathematical model was developed for the analysis and design of airport aprons based on minimum transportation cost. Some of the parameters of transportation cost include user, capital, and operational costs. Moreover, based on the fundamentals of the mathematical model, a computerized simulation model was developed taking into consideration the actual parameters of design of airport aprons such as stochastic demand, passenger behaviour, and evaluation of analytical model. The results obtained from the computerized simulation model indicate that policies of the airport authorities and air carriers such as flight schedules, gate use strategy, the mix of aircraft fleet during the planning horizon, operational conditions, and economic cosiderations have significant impacts on the design of the aprons.

Keywords: Airpornt, Apron, Optimization, Design.