DLR Institute of Air Transport and KLM strengthen exchange in airline operations planning
The Institute of Air Transport of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have intensified their collaboration through a guest researcher stay. The stay of a DLR scientist in KLM’s "Integral Planning and Control" department in Amsterdam highlights the importance of cooperation between research and industry. The aim of such partnerships with the aviation sector is to improve efficiency and decision-making in air transport through practical research and the use of advanced technologies.
Credit:
2024 KLM
Exchange of expertise between research institution and airline
Practical solutions for planning and optimising flight operations
Experience Exchange and Practical Research
As part of a several-month guest researcher stay, the DLR Institute of Air Transport has deepened its collaboration with KLM. Markus Kühlen from the Air Transport Management department of the institute conducted research in KLM’s "Integral Planning and Control" department, which specialises in providing data and optimisation models for network and operations planning.
Optimisation and Increased Efficiency
A key focus of the exchange was the further development of the computational model “Sentry” used by KLM for planning and optimising daily flight operations. Targeted adjustments to the computational model significantly reduced computation times, supporting more efficient flight operations. Additionally, potential optimisations in aircraft reserve planning were examined. The results achieved jointly show that improvements in aircraft reserve planning can lead to more punctual and cost-efficient flight operations.
Scientific and Practical Insights
The exchange has enriched the institute's scientific work with practical experience in airline planning and the operation of an Operations Control Centre (OCC). This initiative is a successful example of experience exchange between research and the aviation industry and is expected to contribute to further developing the DLR institute’s research approaches and improving efficiency in airline operations.
