Young Researchers Group on the Digital Airline Twin gains momentum
A junior research group led by Thorsten Ehlers from the Institute of Air Transport at the German Aerospace Center is investigating the effects of rising fuel prices, skilled labor shortages and new propulsion systems on airline operations using a Digital Airline Twin. Simulations and data analyses will be used to model practical challenges in airline operations and derive optimised solutions.
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Young Researchers Group simulates challenges in airline operations with a Digital Airline Twin
The goal is to model, analyse, visualise, and derive optimised solutions for current and future practical challenges in detail
Challenges and Adjustments in the Aviation Industry
Rising fuel prices, skilled labor shortages and the introduction of new propulsion systems pose a variety of new challenges to the aviation industry in the coming decades: The integration of environmentally friendly aircraft types requires adjustments in network and aircraft deployment planning. In addition, passenger demand is rising, leading to increased capacity utilisation at airports and raising the requirements for airlines to have productive and robust flight schedules.
Under the leadership of Dr. Thorsten Ehlers from the Institute of Air Transport at the German Aerospace Center, a four-person junior research group will work on simulating these challenges using a Digital Airline Twin starting in May 2024.
Simulation of Challenges in Modern Airline Operations
The Digital Airline Twin allows researchers to input various scenarios and examine their effects on airline operations. For example, it explores how the use of hydrogen-powered aircraft could affect crew working hours. The basis for these simulations includes flight data from the past.
In the coming months, the three doctoral students in the Young Researchers Group will further refine specific research questions. After completing the four-year research programmme, the results are intended to be applied in further research projects as well as in the real aviation industry.
Effective Modeling and Problem Solving for the Aviation Industry
The main objective of the Young Researchers Group is to use the virtual representation of airlines to model, analyse and visualise practical challenges in detail and derive optimised solutions. Special attention is paid to a deeper understanding of the interactions between processes in an airline, based on existing expertise in individual planning processes such as network, time, or rotation planning.
The integration of a Digital Airline Twin enables a more accurate modeling of the effects of external influences on airlines, which is important for both scientific publications and policy advice. Furthermore, an integrated, modular airline twin facilitates collaboration with the aviation industry and other research institutes in developing innovative solutions.
