Method and system for allocating aircraft arrival/departure slot times, with preferred movement

• US 8,886,446 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lonnie Howard Bowlin, Rade Michael Baiada
• Original Assignee: Lonnie Howard Bowlin, Rade Michael Baiada
• Inventors: Baiada, Rade Michael, Bowlin, Lonnie Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/893,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/122, 701/3, 701/301, 244/75.1, 342/29, 340/945
• US Class Current: 701/122
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground

Abstract

The present invention takes the form of a computer program, method and/or system to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to temporally manage, coordinate and allocate aircraft arrival/departure Slot Times during a specified period for the flow of a plurality of aircraft at a specified fix point, based upon specified data comprised of the aircraft, the fix point, associated system resources, business/operational goals, airline Requested Slot Times, Preferred Movement and aviation system specified criteria, some of which is temporally varying.

Claims

1. A computer program product in a computer readable memory for controlling a processor to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to temporally manage, coordinate and allocate aircraft arrival/departure Slot Times during a specified period for the flow of a plurality of aircraft at a specified fix point, based upon specified data comprised of the aircraft, the fix point, associated system resources, business/operational goals, aviation system specified criteria, some of which is temporally varying, said computer program comprising the steps of:

a means of collecting and storing the specified data and criteria of an aircraft flow applicable for a specified period, at a specified fix point,

a means of processing, at a specified instant for which it is desired to allocate the Slot Times, the specified data applicable at that instant to each of the aircraft and associated resources so as to predict an arrival time for each of the aircraft at the specified fix point,

a means of assigning to each of the plurality of aircraft a Figure of Merit whose value is a measure of how likely it is that the predicted arrival fix time will be achieved by the aircraft, wherein the Figure of Merit having a specified value, which, when exceeded, implies that the predicted arrival time is sufficiently reliable so as to warrant the aircraft to be considered for an allocation of one of the Slot Times,

a means of accepting and storing a request by the airline, aircraft operator or pilot for a Slot Time for each of the aircraft at the specified fix point,

a means of accepting and storing, a request from an airline, aircraft operator or pilot for an alternate Slot Time (or times) or Preferred Movement direction (i.e., forward or backward) to move the Slot Time if the Requested Slot Time is not available,

a means of calculating, accepting and storing Slack Time requirements,

a means of calculating and storing predicted Slot Times for the plurality of aircraft, for which a specific Slot Time request was not made,

a means of calculating the demand for the Slot Times for the specified period at the specified fix point, based upon the Slot Time requests, Slack Time requirements and the predicted Slot Times for the plurality of aircraft for which a specific Slot Time request was not made,

a means of predicting the availability of the Slot Times for the specified period at the specified fix point, based upon specified data that is applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

a means of allocating the Slot Times through a Goal Function process, with the steps of the Goal Function process comprised of;

a means of evaluating the predicted unaltered Slot Time scenario of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period and fix point against a set of specified goals,

a means of comparing the request for a Slot Time by an airline, aircraft operator or pilot to determine whether a conflict exists for the Requested Slot Time,

a means of assigning the Requested Slot Time to the airline, aircraft operator or pilot if no conflict for the Slot Time exists,

a means of generating various alternative Slot Time assignment scenarios, using the airline, aircraft operator or pilot'"'"'s Slot Time requests, the airline, aircraft operator or pilot'"'"'s alternate Slot Time requests or Slot Time Preferred Movement information and a process to equitably allocate the Slot Times among all airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, if said Slot Time conflict exists,

a means of comparing the predicted unaltered Slot Time scenario to all of the evaluated Slot Time scenarios for the specified period and specified fix point to determine which Slot Time scenario yields the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of choosing the Slot Time scenario for the specified period and specified fix point which yields the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of assigning the Slot Times to individual aircraft for the Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals.

2. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a means of communicating the Assigned Slot Time to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

3. A computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising the is steps of:

a means that facilitates the trading of the Slot Time requests or allocated Slot Times among the airlines, aircraft operators and/or pilots.

4. A computer program product as recited in claim 3, further comprising, the steps of:

a means of monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so so as to identify temporally updated specified data of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

a means of storing the updated specified data at the specified fix point,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount, such that when the specified data varies beyond said specified amount, said computer program product takes the steps comprised of;

a means of updating the Figure of Merit and predicted arrival fix times for each of the aircraft to which the temporally-updated specified data applies,

a means of updating the predicted demand for, availability of so and requests for Slot Times and Slack Times, based upon the updated specified data and specified fix times,

a means of updating the Slot Time allocations based upon the updated specified data, Figure of Merit and predictions of the demand for, availability of, requests for, and updated Assigned Slot Times,

a means of re-identifying and re-evaluating alternative scenarios to resolve conflicts for the Slot Times based upon a specified Goal function that is responsive to the requests and operator input, so as to find a Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of communicating the updated Assigned Slot Times to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operators or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted is arrival/departure Slot Times.

5. A computer program product as recited in claim 4, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said so aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

6. A computer program product as recited in claim 3, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprising of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

7. A computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

a means of monitoring, the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated specified data of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

a means of storing the updated specified data at the specified fix point,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount, such that when the specified data varies beyond said specified amount, said computer program product takes the steps comprised of;

a means of updating the Figure of Merit and predicted arrival fix times for each of the aircraft to which the temporally-updated specified data applies,

a means of updating the predicted demand for, availability of and requests for Slot Times and Slack Times, based upon the updated specified data and specified fix times,

a means of updating the Slot Time allocations based upon the updated specified data, Figure of Merit and predictions of the demand for, availability of, requests for, and updated Assigned Slot Times,

a means of re-identifying and re-evaluating alternative scenarios to resolve conflicts for the Slot Times based upon a specified Goal function that is responsive to the requests and operator input, so as to find a Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of communicating the updated Assigned Slot Times to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operators or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot.

8. A computer program product as recited in claim 7, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

9. A computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding, said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

10. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprising of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

11. A method to allow an aviation system to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to temporally manage, coordinate and allocate aircraft arrival/departure Slot Times during a specified period for the flow of a plurality of is aircraft at a specified fix point, based upon specified data comprised of the aircraft, the fix point, associated system resources, business/operational, goals, aviation system so specified criteria, some of which is temporally varying, said method comprising the steps of:

collecting and storing the specified data and criteria of an aircraft flow applicable for a specified period, at a specified fix point,

processing, at a specified instant for which it is desired to allocate the Slot Times, the specified data applicable at that instant to each of the aircraft and associated resources so as to predict an arrival time for each of the aircraft at the specified fix point,

assigning, to each of the plurality of aircraft a Figure of Merit whose value is a measure of how likely it is that the predicted arrival fix time will be achieved by the so aircraft, wherein the Figure of Merit having a specified value, which, when exceeded, implies that the predicted arrival time is sufficiently reliable so as to warrant the aircraft to be considered for an allocation of one of the Slot Times,

accepting and storing a request by the airline, aircraft operator or pilot for a Slot Time for each of the aircraft at the specified fix point,

accepting and storing a request from an airline, aircraft operator or pilot for an alternate Slot Time (or times) or Preferred Movement direction forward or backward) to move the Slot Time if the Requested Slot Time is not available,

calculating, accepting and storing Slack Time requirements,

calculating and storing predicted Slot Times for the plurality of aircraft, for which a specific Slot Time request was not made,

calculating the demand for the Slot Times for the specified period at the specified fix point, based upon the Slot Time requests, Slack Time requirements and the predicted Slot Times for the plurality of aircraft for which a specific Slot Time request was not made,

predicting the availability of the Slot Times for the specified period at the specified fix point, based upon specified data that is applicable for the specified period, at the specified fix point,

allocating the Slot Times through a Goal Function process, with the steps of the Goal Function process comprised of;

is evaluating the predicted unaltered Slot Time scenario of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period and fix point against a set of specified goals,

comparing die request for a Slot Time by an airline, aircraft operator or pilot to determine whether a conflict exists for the Requested Slot Time,

assigning the Requested Slot Time to the airline, aircraft operator or pilot if no conflict for the Slot Time exists,

generating various alternative Slot Time assignment scenarios, using the airline, aircraft operator or pilot'"'"'s Slot Time requests, the airline, aircraft operator or pilot'"'"'s alternate Slot Time requests or Slot Time Preferred Movement information and a process to equitably allocate the Slot Times among all airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, if said Slot Time conflict exists,

comparing the predicted unaltered Slot Time scenario to all of the evaluated Slot Time scenarios for the specified period and specified fix point to determine which Slot Time scenario yields the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

choosing the Slot Time scenario for the specified period and specified fix point which yields the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

assigning the Slot Times to individual aircraft for the Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising, the steps of:

communicating the Assigned Slot Time to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

facilitating the trading of the Slot Time requests or allocated Slot Times among the airlines, aircraft operators and/or pilots.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further composing the steps of:

so monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated specified data of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

storing the updated specified data at the specified fix point,

determining when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount, such that when the specified data varies beyond said specified amount, said method takes the steps comprised of;

updating the Figure of Merit and predicted arrival fix times for each of the aircraft to which the temporally-updated specified data applies,

updating the predicted demand for, availability of and requests for Slot so Times and Slack Times, based upon the updated specified data and specified fix times,

updating the Slot Time allocations based upon the updated specified data, Figure of Merit and predictions of the demand for, availability of, requests for, and updated Assigned Slot Times,

re-identifying and re-evaluating alternative scenarios to resolve conflicts for the Slot Times based upon a specified Goal function that is responsive to the requests and operator input, so as to find a Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

communicating the updated Assigned Slot Times to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operators or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

17. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated specified data of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

storing the updated specified data at the specified fix point,

determining when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount, such that when the specified data varies beyond said specified amount, said method takes the steps comprised of;

updating the Figure of Merit and predicted arrival fix times for each of so the aircraft to which the temporally-updated specified data applies,

updating the predicted demand for, availability of and requests for Slot Times and Slack Times, based upon the updated specified data and specified fix times,

updating the Slot Time allocations based upon the updated specified data, Figure of Merit and predictions of the demand for, availability of, requests for, and updated Assigned Slot Times,

re-identifying and re-evaluating alternative scenarios to resolve conflicts for the Slot Times based upon a specified Goal function that is responsive to the requests and operator input, so as to find a Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

communicating the updated Assigned Slot Times to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operators or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

19. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

20. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

21. A system, including a processor, memory, display and input, device to allow an airline, aviation authority or other aviation entity to temporally manage, coordinate and allocate aircraft arrival/departure Slot Times during, a specified period for the flow of a plurality of aircraft at a specified fix point, based upon specified data comprised of the aircraft, the fix point, associated system resources, business/operational goals, aviation system specified criteria, some of which is temporally varying, said system comprising the steps of:

a means of collecting and storing the specified data and criteria of an aircraft flow applicable for a specified period, at a specified fix point,

a means of processing, at a specified instant for which it is desired to allocate the Slot Times, the specified data applicable at that instant to each of the aircraft and associated resources so as to predict an arrival time for each of the aircraft at the specified fix point,

a means of assigning to each of the plurality of aircraft a Figure of Merit whose value is a measure of how likely it is that the predicted arrival fix time will be achieved by the aircraft, wherein the Figure of Merit haying a specified value, which, when exceeded, implies that the predicted arrival time is sufficiently reliable so as to warrant the aircraft to be considered for an allocation of one of the Slot Times,

a means of accepting and storing a request by the airline, aircraft operator or pilot for a Slot Time for each of the aircraft at the specified fix point,

a means of accepting and storing a request from an airline, aircraft operator or pilot for an alternate Slot Time (or times) or Preferred Movement direction forward or backward) to move the Slot Time if the Requested Slot Time is not available,

a means of calculating, accepting and storing Slack Time requirements,

a means of calculating and storing predicted Slot Times for the plurality of aircraft, for which a specific Slot Time request was not made,

a means of calculating the demand for the Slot Times for the specified period at the specified fix point, based upon the Slot Time requests, Slack Time requirements and the predicted Slot Times for the plurality of aircraft for which a specific Slot Time request was not made,

a means of predicting the availability of the Slot Times for the specified period at the specified fix point, based upon specified data that is applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

a means of allocating the Slot Times through a Goal Function process, with the steps of the Goal Function process comprised of;

a means of evaluating the predicted unaltered Slot Time scenario of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period and fix point against a set of specified goals,

a means of comparing the request for a Slot Time by an airline, aircraft operator or pilot to determine whether a conflict exists for the Requested Slot Time,

a means of assigning the Requested Slot Time to the airline, aircraft operator or pilot if no conflict for the Slot Time exists,

a means of generating various alternative Slot Time assignment scenarios, using the airline, aircraft operator or pilot'"'"'s Slot Time requests, the airline, aircraft operator or pilot'"'"'s alternate Slot Time requests or Slot Time Preferred Movement information and a process to equitably allocate the Slot Times among all airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, if said Slot Time conflict exists,

a means of comparing the predicted unaltered Slot Time scenario to all of the evaluated Slot Time scenarios for the specified period and specified fix point to determine which Slot Time scenario yields the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of choosing the Slot Time scenario for the specified period and specified fix point which yields the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of assigning the Slot Times to individual aircraft for the Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

a means of communicating the Assigned Slot Time to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

a means that facilitates the trading of the Slot Time requests or allocated Slot Times among the airlines, aircraft operators and/or pilots.

24. A system as recited in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

a means of monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated specified data of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

a means of storing, the updated specified data at the specified fix point,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount, such that when the specified data varies beyond said specified amount, said system takes the steps comprised of;

a means of updating the Figure of Merit and predicted arrival fix times for each of the aircraft to which the temporally-updated specified data applies,

a means of updating the predicted demand for, availability of and requests for Slot Times and Slack Times, based upon the updated specified data and specified fix times,

a means of updating the Slot Time allocations based upon the updated specified data, Figure of Merit and predictions of the demand for, availability of, requests for, and updated Assigned Slot Times,

a means of re-identifying and re-elevating alternative scenarios to resolve conflicts for the Slot Times based upon a specified Goal function that is responsive to the requests and operator input, so as to find a Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of communicating the updated Assigned Slot Times to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operators or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times such that said affected, airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

25. A system as recited in claim 24, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

26. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

27. A system as recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

a means of monitoring the ongoing temporal changes in the specified data so as to identify temporally updated specified data of an aircraft flow applicable for the specified period at the specified fix point,

a means of storing the updated specified data at the specified fix point,

a means to determine when the specified data varies beyond a specified amount, such that when the specified data varies beyond said specified amount, said system takes the steps comprised of;

a means of updating the Figure of Merit and predicted arrival fix times for each of the aircraft to which the temporally-updated specified data applies,

a means of updating the predicted demand for, availability of and requests for Slot Times and Slack Times, based upon the updated specified data and specified fix times,

a means of updating the Slot Time allocations based upon the updated specified data, Figure of Merit and predictions of the demand for, availability of requests for, and updated Assigned Slot Times,

a means of re-identifying and re-evaluating alternative scenarios to resolve conflicts for the Slot Times based upon a specified Goal function that is responsive to the requests and operator input, so as to find a Slot Time scenario yielding the highest degree of attainment for a set of specified goals,

a means of communicating the updated Assigned Slot Times to the affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operators or pilot such that said affected airline, aircraft, aircraft operator or pilot has the information needed to change the aircraft trajectory to meet said targeted arrival/departure Slot Times.

28. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

29. A system as recited in claim 22, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.

30. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said specified data is chosen from the group comprised of the temporally varying positions and trajectories of said aircraft, the Slot Time Requests and Preferred Movement of the airlines, aircraft operators and pilots, the temporally varying weather conditions surrounding said aircraft and resource, the flight handling characteristics of said aircraft, the safety regulations pertaining to said aircraft and resource, the position, demand and capacity of said resource.