Macroscopic-Level Collaborative Optimization Framework for IADS: Multiple-Route Terminal Maneuvering Area Scheduling Problem

The terminal maneuvering area (TMA) serves as a critical transition zone between upper enroute airways and airports, representing one of the most complex regions for managing high volumes of arrival and departure traffic. This paper presents the multi-route TMA scheduling problem as an optimization challenge aimed at optimizing TMA interventions, such as rerouting, speed control, time-based metering, dynamic minimum time separation, and holding procedures; the objective function minimizes schedule deviations and the accumulated holding time. Furthermore, the problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) to facilitate finding solutions. A rolling horizon control (RHC) dynamic optimization framework is also introduced to decompose the large-scale problem into manageable subproblems for iterative resolution. To demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed scheduling models, a hub airport—Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (ICAO code: ZUTF) in the Cheng-Yu Metroplex—is selected for validation. Numerical analyses confirm the superiority of the proposed models, which are expected to reduce aircraft delays, shorten airborne and holding times, and improve airspace resource utilization. This study provides intelligent decision support and engineering design ideas for the macroscopic-level collaborative optimization framework of the Integrated Arrival–Departure and Surface (IADS) system.