Aircraft continuous climb/descent modelling using computer based tools

In the context of civil air navigation, and following the proposed paradigm shift for Air Traffic Management (ATM), it has become necessary to be able to improve accuracy of Trajectory Predictors (TP). This is particularly relevant for analysis and design of Terminal Manoeuvring Areas procedures, which consist of a mixture of conventional, Continuous Climb Departures (CCD) and Continuous Descent Approaches (CDA). This work is mainly driven by the need to reduce operational cost as well as decrease the impact on the environment. All these together with the urgency to improve the levels of safety and capacity of ATM, support the importance of achieving great accuracy in aircraft trajectory predictions. Over the years there has been an increase in the amount of computer based tools that predict the situation of an aircraft using Four-Dimensional Trajectories (4DT), therefore the assessment of the accuracy of these predictors is a must. This paper proposes a methodology that can be applied to any trajectory simulator tool. It also suggests a way of measuring its precision in order to improve upon it and make it more accurate.