American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 1 Study on Continuous Descent Operation for Efficient Air Transport System Angela Errico 1 , Vittorio Di Vito 2 , Luigi Federico 3 CIRA, Italian Aerospace Research Center, 81043 Capua (CE), Italy The effects of aircraft noise, fuel use and related pollutant atmospheric emissions can impact the quality of life in populated areas near to airports and represent environmental issues resulting in restrictions for air traffic procedures, aircraft manufacturing and airport facilities design. In order to mitigate the above-indicated environmental issues, specifically designed Curved and Continuous Descent Approach trajectories can be adopted for the implementation during approach and landing phases. This paper provides a study about Curved and Continuous Descent Approach concept for the future efficient flight operations in TMA. It aims providing the main concepts and mathematical models needed to implement a system able to generate descent profiles that are suitably optimized in terms of fuel consumption. These concepts and models are the basis for the development of dedicated tools and algorithms able to real-time generate optimal descent profiles, in the framework of a more efficient Air Transport System management with reduced environmental impact. In particular, this study investigates the differences between conventional descent and proposed curved and continuous descent techniques, starting from the analysis of procedures for a generic descent trajectory. Furthermore, detailed mathematical modelling of fuel consumption with reference to the descent phase is reported in the paper and, finally, high- level requirements and performance assessment indicators for Continuous Descent and Curved Approach profiles are discussed. The overall study here proposed, therefore, aims providing the basis for the development of automatic Continuous Descent and Curved Approach profiles real-time generation tools, able to take into account route structures and system operations, in compliance with the current rules of the air and integrating future ATM concepts and technologies. Nomenclature AGL = Above Ground Level ANSP = Air Navigation Service Provider ATC = Air Traffic Control ATM = Air Traffic Management CDA = Continuous Descent Approach D = Aerodynamic drag [N] d/dt = time derivative [s -1 ] FAF = Final Approach Fix g = gravitational acceleration [9.81 m/s 2 ] h = altitude [m] IAF = Initial Approach Fix ISA = International Standard Atmosphere m = aircraft mass [kg] 1 Researcher, Air Transport Sustainability Department, Italian Aerospace Research Center (CIRA), 81043 Capua (CE), Italy, a.errico@cira.it, AIAA Member 2 Head, Air Transport Sustainability Department, Italian Aerospace Research Center (CIRA), 81043 Capua (CE), Italy, v.divito@cira.it 3 Head, Environmental Acoustics and Pollutant Emissions Department, Italian Aerospace Research Center (CIRA), 81043 Capua (CE), Italy, l.federico@cira.it Downloaded by Antonio Carozza on June 20, 2016 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/6.2016-3157 16th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference 13-17 June 2016, Washington, D.C. AIAA 2016-3157 Copyright © 2016 by CIRA - Italian Aerospace Research Center. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission. AIAA Aviation