NAS user decision support tools for airport resource management

In this paper, we discuss the design and development of prototype tools designed to support airport resource and surface management. We named this suite of tools ARMADA - airport resource management and decision aid; it was developed as either stand alone software or to be integrated into the NAS user´s existing software environment. The system makes use of airport surface data and predictions for applications by airport users including airline staff at airline operations centers (AOCs), ramp control, gate management and maintenance. The system concept is based on a significant reliance upon programmable alerts and critiquing functions to call the user´s attention to important events that have been detected using airport surface data (integrated with other data sources as appropriate). The system also seeks to provide active decision support for aircraft pushback planning decisions - a critical event in terms of departure management.