Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project

This paper discusses SESAR’s Auto-Steer Taxi at Airport (ASTAIR) project, which seeks to advance airport ground operations including engine-off taxiing to move towards sustainable airports. The ASTAIR concept integrates human–AI teaming to optimize aircraft movement from gates to runways, with the p...

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Main Authors: Jérémie Garcia, Dong-Bach Vo, Anke Brock, Vincent Peyruqueou, Alexandre Battut, Mathieu Cousy, Vladimíra Čanádyová, Alexei Sharpanskykh, Gülçin Ermiş
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/15
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author Jérémie Garcia
Dong-Bach Vo
Anke Brock
Vincent Peyruqueou
Alexandre Battut
Mathieu Cousy
Vladimíra Čanádyová
Alexei Sharpanskykh
Gülçin Ermiş
author_facet Jérémie Garcia
Dong-Bach Vo
Anke Brock
Vincent Peyruqueou
Alexandre Battut
Mathieu Cousy
Vladimíra Čanádyová
Alexei Sharpanskykh
Gülçin Ermiş
author_sort Jérémie Garcia
collection DOAJ
description This paper discusses SESAR’s Auto-Steer Taxi at Airport (ASTAIR) project, which seeks to advance airport ground operations including engine-off taxiing to move towards sustainable airports. The ASTAIR concept integrates human–AI teaming to optimize aircraft movement from gates to runways, with the primary objectives of improving predictability, efficiency, and environmental sustainability at large airports. Building on previous initiatives such as SESAR’s AEON, ASTAIR brings high-level automation to tasks like autonomous taxiing and vehicle routing. The system assists operators by calculating conflict-free routes for vehicles and dynamically adjusting operations based on real-time data. Based on workshops with several stakeholders, we describe the operational challenges involved in implementing ASTAIR, including managing parking stand availability and adapting to unforeseen events. A significant challenge highlighted is the human–automation partnership, where AI plays a supportive role but humans retain control over critical decisions, particularly in cases of system failure. The need for clear and consistent collaboration between AI and human operators is emphasized to ensure safety, efficiency, and improved compliance with take-off schedules, which in turn facilitates in-flight optimization.
format Article
id doaj-art-b71e606fffb74bd98ab8bb9057ac082d
institution Kabale University
issn 2673-4591
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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spelling doaj-art-b71e606fffb74bd98ab8bb9057ac082d2025-08-20T03:24:35ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-03-019011510.3390/engproc2025090015Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) ProjectJérémie Garcia0Dong-Bach Vo1Anke Brock2Vincent Peyruqueou3Alexandre Battut4Mathieu Cousy5Vladimíra Čanádyová6Alexei Sharpanskykh7Gülçin Ermiş8Fédération de Recherche ONERA ISAE-SUPAERO ENAC Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, FranceFédération de Recherche ONERA ISAE-SUPAERO ENAC Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, FranceFédération de Recherche ONERA ISAE-SUPAERO ENAC Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, FranceFédération de Recherche ONERA ISAE-SUPAERO ENAC Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, FranceFédération de Recherche ONERA ISAE-SUPAERO ENAC Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, FranceFédération de Recherche ONERA ISAE-SUPAERO ENAC Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, FranceDeep Blue, 00185 Roma, ItalyFaculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The NetherlandsFaculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The NetherlandsThis paper discusses SESAR’s Auto-Steer Taxi at Airport (ASTAIR) project, which seeks to advance airport ground operations including engine-off taxiing to move towards sustainable airports. The ASTAIR concept integrates human–AI teaming to optimize aircraft movement from gates to runways, with the primary objectives of improving predictability, efficiency, and environmental sustainability at large airports. Building on previous initiatives such as SESAR’s AEON, ASTAIR brings high-level automation to tasks like autonomous taxiing and vehicle routing. The system assists operators by calculating conflict-free routes for vehicles and dynamically adjusting operations based on real-time data. Based on workshops with several stakeholders, we describe the operational challenges involved in implementing ASTAIR, including managing parking stand availability and adapting to unforeseen events. A significant challenge highlighted is the human–automation partnership, where AI plays a supportive role but humans retain control over critical decisions, particularly in cases of system failure. The need for clear and consistent collaboration between AI and human operators is emphasized to ensure safety, efficiency, and improved compliance with take-off schedules, which in turn facilitates in-flight optimization.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/15airport ground operationsautomation in aviationhuman–automation teamingconflict-free routingautonomous taxiing
spellingShingle Jérémie Garcia
Dong-Bach Vo
Anke Brock
Vincent Peyruqueou
Alexandre Battut
Mathieu Cousy
Vladimíra Čanádyová
Alexei Sharpanskykh
Gülçin Ermiş
Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project
Engineering Proceedings
airport ground operations
automation in aviation
human–automation teaming
conflict-free routing
autonomous taxiing
title Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project
title_full Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project
title_fullStr Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project
title_full_unstemmed Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project
title_short Towards More Automated Airport Ground Operations Including Engine-Off Taxiing Techniques Within the Auto-Steer Taxi at AIRport (ASTAIR) Project
title_sort towards more automated airport ground operations including engine off taxiing techniques within the auto steer taxi at airport astair project
topic airport ground operations
automation in aviation
human–automation teaming
conflict-free routing
autonomous taxiing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/15
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