Robust Conflict Detection and Resolution around Top of Descent

x at the edge of the terminal area. This paper explores a pair of enhanced vertical conict detection ranges (buers) for aircraft descending to their meter x that could provide enough coverage to catch potential losses for multiple types of uncertainty while limiting the increase in false alerts. The specic uncertainties examined include the predicted wind speed, cruise speed, descent speed, top-of-descent location, and the combination of all of those uncertainties plus uncertainty in aircraft fuel weight prediction. Performance metrics include false alerts, missed alerts, losses of separation, number of resolutions issued, and the total system delay caused by aircraft ying conict avoidance maneuvers. Results show that these vertical buers reduce the number of losses of separation for arriving aircraft from 207 to 12. However, using the vertical buers increases the number of resolutions issued by 50% and doubles the delay accrued by aircraft ying conict resolution maneuvers. Results also suggest that a smaller buer (80% size) could be used to gain most of the same benet as the full buer with less additional delay, while alternative methods might be best suited to remove the last few loss of separation cases during descent. Further, improving the trajectory prediction accuracy combined with a vertical buer signicantly reduced the number of losses of separation, resolutions issued, and delay accrued.