A Technology Management Approach in Support of Strategic Capacity and Environmental Planning

Air transportation is a critical part of modern society as it enables economic growth and provides mobility to citizens. Because of the benefits it provides, there is a natural desire to support its growth in the present and in the f uture. However, this expansion is currently limited by constraints that include aviation ’s environmental impact, the system’s operational capacity, and the interactions that exist between these two aspects. A strategic planning effort that enables aviation ’s continuous growth over the long term must recognize this interaction and seek solution portfolios that embody an adequate compromise. Such is the focus of the research presented in this paper, where various technologies and technology enabled solutions affecting air transportation operational capacity and environmental impact are considered in the context of a parametric 25 -year horizon. Quantitative assessments of technology impact on system delay and environmental impact across a multitude of demand sc enarios are made available to decision makers in a parametric and interactive environment. Key considerations such as technology availability, introduction date, demand growth profile, and stakeholder preferences, are made available as inputs, whereas visu al representations of system performance are shown as outputs. This environment enables a multitude of tradeoff and sensitivity studies that are instantaneously revealed to analysts and decision makers, thus informing the choice of technology portfolios. The capabilities afforded are illustrated through a series of representative what -if exercises.