Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Determine the Design Peak Hour for a NPIAS primary or non-primary commercial service
airport, and present the analysis as a chart (graph) showing peak-month (PM) demand and be
capable of determining the peak-month/average day (PMAD) and peak-hour (PH).
Step 1: Obtain Data
For the example that follows, we used Norfolk International Airport (ID: ORF). If you already
have an airport in mind (other than ORF), great. If not go to the FAA Operations and
Performance Data website and select the Air Traffic Activity Data Systems (ATADS) option (see
Figure 1).
Figure 1: Select Operations Network (OPSNET) Option
This will take you to Figure 2.
Figure 2: Select Tower Operations
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Selecting Tower Operations will bring you to the page shown in Figure 3. Select the Facilities
tab.
Figure 3: Select Facilities
Enter the facility ID (in this example we used ORF for Norfolk International Airport) as shown in
Figure 4.
Figure 4: Enter Airport ID
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Selecting the dropdown box that appears will transfer the facility ID into the box as shown in
Figure 5.
Figure 5: Airport ID Transferred to Data Block
Now select the “dates” tab as shown in Figure 6. Then select the “Months” button and enter the
period of data you need for the analysis (a minimum of five years is required). In Figure 6, we
selected the period 2002 to 2007 (six years).
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Figure 6: Dates
Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Next, we select the “Groupings” item to determine from the list of available fields, which data we
actually need and how it will be grouped (see Figure 7). In this case we only need the data
grouped by dates. By selecting the “Date” line on the left, the date group is transferred to the
right hand Selected Fields box as shown in Figure 8.
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Figure 7: Select Grouping
Figure 8: Date Grouping Selected and Transferred to Selected Fields Window
The output option (Figure 9) determines how the data is presented to you. In our case, we
want:
•
Display:
Standard Report
•
Options:
None (deselect all)
•
Format:
MS Excel
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Figure 9: Output Standard Report to MS Excel with No Options
Deselect all boxes!
After selecting the output options, select Run. This will produce an Excel spreadsheet which
you can either save (recommended) or open (don’t forget to save it!). Figure 11 shows the
results of our selections discussed above and shown in Figures 1-9. This data is now ready for
sorting and your analysis that will lead to production of the required graphs and report.
Figure 10: Save File (Screen and options will depend on browser)
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Figure 11: Five-Years of Data Ready for Sorting and Analysis
(This exercise assumes you have basic skills in Excel and the ability to sort and manipulate data
in the preparation of graphs, charts, and reports.)
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Step 2: Analyze Data and Prepare Chart and Report
The Excel table we downloaded is sorted by three columns (Date, Airport Operations, and
Tower Operations). We are interested in the date and tower operations column, so you can
delete the Airport Operations column, if you wish. (You can read about the difference on the
FAA website.) You now have sufficient information to determine PM, PMAD, and PH for most
airports. Keep in mind, that unless you have very detailed operations data by not only the year
and month, but also day and hour, then you will have to make some assumptions. These
assumptions are addressed below:
•
Peak Month: The busiest month. Sort data by months and determine which month is
the busiest month over the five year (or longer) period of data you collected.
•
Peak Month/Average Day: The busiest day of the PM. Divide the busiest month by the
number of days in that month. This is the PMAD.
•
Peak Hour: The busiest hour of PMAD. Unless you have detailed operations data by
hour, we assume that the busiest hour is approximately 15 to 20 percent of PMAD.
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Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Peak Month Assessment
The analysis using the data from ORF indicates that the average busiest month during the
period of 2002-2007 is August; however, you will note from Figure 11 that ORF has a fairly
steady operational flow during most of the year.
Figure 11: Peak-Month Average Operations
Peak-Month Average Day and Peak-Hour Assessments
If August is the peak-month, then the Peak-Month/Average Day (PMAD) is 1/31 of the PM
operations (absent of other detailed data). Therefore, the PMAD for August is 16,077
operations divided by 31 days, or 519 operations.
Again, assuming we do not have detailed operational data broken out by the hour, then we can
assume that the busiest hour is between 15 and 20 percent of PMAD operations. We’ll use 15
percent. Therefore, PH for the PMAD in the PM (August) is (519 operations x .15), or 78
operations.
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Summation
Peak-Demand Analysis SampleProblem
Our table-top analysis has produced the following information for Norfolk International Airport
(ORF).
•
Period: 2002-2007
•
PM is August with an average of 16,077 operations over the six year period
•
PMAD is 519 operations (PM operations divided by the number of days in August)
•
PH is 78 (An assumed percentage of PMADoperations)
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