An Interactive Decision Support System for Scheduling Fighter Pilot Training

1. 8 7 t h F T S An Interactive Decision Support System for Scheduling Fighter Pilot Training Capt Cuong Nguyen Richard F. Deckro James W. Chrissis MAS V – 4 June, Memphis, TN

2. Overview • Introduction • Background • Relevant Literature • Methodology • Demonstration • Summary

3. Project Purpose • Provide Decision Support Tool for the 87th Fighter Training Squadron (FTS) • Must be user-friendly • Must be easy-to-learn • Must be based on current framework • Modified Scheduling Tool

4. Background:Problem Definition • Scheduling Fighter Pilot Training – Develop Methodologies and Tools based on Scheduling Theory to Assist in Generating Training Schedules and Test Potential Scheduling Characteristics. • Problem Defined by • Request from D.O. Maj Thomas “Honus” Wagner • Visit to 87th to Observe Current Operations and Discussion of Requests – Capt Richard “Cheese” McCurdy, SQD Scheduler • Phone Conversations

5. Goals Maintenance Flight Database Schedule/Sorties Schedule/Sim TRIM database Schedule/Training Training Flight Scheduling Analysis Reports Background: CurrentProcess Flowchart Squadron Scheduling Dotted Line Denotes “Manual” Interfacing of Systems

6. Background: Problem Characteristics • Dynamic Changes • Operational Cancellations • Scheduling Problem • “Bust” a Ride • Others • Maintenance Cancellations • Weather Cancellations • Requirements or Priority Changes • Squadron Scheduler Changes Every Six Months • Extra Duty • Expertise Loss • Others

7. Background: Problem Characteristics • Deterministic Advanced Schedule • Starts Two Weeks in Advance • Finalized One Week in Advance • How/Who Manages Changes? • Flights Scheduled Manually Using Grease-board • Time-intensive in Building a Schedule • Current Product Difficult to Use • “Squadron Scheduler” turnover is high • “Low man” extra duty

8. Background: Schedulers • Scheduling in the 87th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) Environment • One Instructor Pilot (IP) Assigned as the Squadron Scheduler • Aircraft Sortie Schedule • Simulation Training Schedule • Classroom Schedule for In-class Training • One Scheduler for each Training Flight • Schedule Individual Students • Schedule Classes • Submit Requests to Squadron Scheduler • Maintenance

9. Background: Scheduling Goals and Objective • Multiple Scheduling Goals • Meet Training Milestones/Timeline • Students/IPs: Maximize Aircraft Training Time • Maintenance: Minimize Aircraft Preparation and Flights Prepped, but not flown (“Safety Stock”) • Scheduling Objective • Robust Schedule that Satisfies These Objectives • Must be User-Friendly

10. Background: Scheduling • Types of Schedules* • Aircraft Sortie Schedule – Allocates student/IP to a time slot for aircraft take-off. • Classroom Schedule – In-class instructor-based training and computer aided instructions. • Simulator Schedule – Simulator pod training. These schedules must be balanced against each other • Minimum Training Requirements* • 96 Sorties T-38 Aircraft Training • 23 Sorties T-51 Simulator Training • 247.3 Hours Total Ground Training * AETC Syllabus P-V4A-A (T-38), March 2001

11. Background:Scheduling Constraints • Aircraft Sortie Constraints • Daylight Time Window • Simulator Constraints • Four Simulator Pods Available • Other Constraints • Aircraft Contracted • Eight Aircraft Spares • Mandatory 12 Hours Rest

12. Background:Scheduling Constraints • Aircraft Constraints • 55 Total Aircraft Available • Downtime for Maintenance • Aircraft Off-Station • Aircraft Turn-Time 2+20 • Preparation Time

13. Squadron Scheduling Inputs/Outputs Squadron Monthly Goals Aircraft Availability Other Sorties Requests Flight Scheduling Requests Squadron Scheduling Schedule/Sorties Schedule/Classrooms Schedule/Simulators

14. Background:Schedules • Aircraft Sortie Schedule • Three “Go” Periods per Training Day • Balance Schedule to Minimize Aircraft Preparation Time and Unused Aircraft • Top Priority – Students meet or exceed flying requirements subject to constraints

15. Background:Schedules • Simulator Pod Schedule • Four Pods Available • Similar Time Requirements as Aircraft • 2nd Priority after Aircraft Schedule

16. Background:Schedules • Classroom Schedule • Lowest Priority • Anytime Available • Usually Late Afternoon • Some Classes Earlier During the Day as Required • Generally Not a Problem With Availability

17. Background: Current Software • Software Currently Used • Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets – Used to generate the schedules and contracts. Also used to calculate and store weekly/monthly training goals. • Microsoft Access Flight Database – Stores sortie data used for analysis and reporting • TRIMS – Proprietary database, keeping track of students’ training status. Produces students’ report status

18. Relevant Literature: Multiple Criteria Optimization • Multiple Criteria Optimization • Utilizes mathematical programming to analyze problems with multiple, sometimes conflicting, objectives to arrive at a mathematically optimal solution. (Steuer, 1986, p.vii) • Klamroth and Wiecek • Research in production scheduling on a single machine • Used dynamic programming to solve time-dependent multiple criteria scheduling problems • Steuer Suggests Iterative Procedures • De-conflict conflicting criteria by searching trade-off space for a final solution

19. Relevant Literature: Visual Interactive Modeling (VIM) • Visual Interactive Modeling (VIM) Scheduling • Belton, V. and Elder, M., “Exploring a Multicriteria Approach to Production Scheduling”, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 1996, 47:162-174 • Used to explore solutions to a multiple criteria production scheduling problem • Expert knowledge used to guide the schedule generation process • Dependent on expert knowledge in iterative process to create feasible and robust solution

20. Relevant Literature: VIM Chart Virtual Interactive Modeling and Knowledge-Based Modeling Control Mechanism and Control Parameters Scheduling Problem Heuristics Schedule and Performance Measures

21. Relevant Literature: TIMS • Training Integrated Management System (TIMS) – Total Scheduling Management Software (TIMS User’s Manual, 13 November 2001) • Part of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) Ground Based Training System (GBTS) • Developed by Logitec in conjunction with Raytheon Aircraft Company for the JPATS program • “The TIMS will Manage Undergraduate Flying Training (UFT) for Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET)” • Purpose: Integrate control and increase standardization processes and increase efficiency (TIMS User’s Manual, p.3) • Personal Computer (PC) Based Client-Server Architecture Connected By: • Local Area Networks at Base Level • Wide Area Networks Connecting Base-to-Base

22. Relevant Literature: TIMS • TIMS Functions(TIMS User’s Manual, pp. 3-4) • Academics – Computer Aided Instructions (CAI) and Mediated Interactive Learning (MIL) {Instructor-Based Training (IBT)} • Administration – Audit Log, qualification, student, and user manager functions • HQ Administration – Headquarters planning functions • Personal Information – Personal calendar and schedules • Resources – Creating, editing, and managing TIMS resources • Results – Air Force Form 781, Navy Yellowsheet, gradebook, other reports • Schedule Build – Tools to create new schedules, copy, merge, and manage schedules • Schedule Execution – Execute previously built schedules. Manage schedule times, assign resources, dynamic tracking of schedule status • Training Syllabus – Tools to review, edit, promote, and review syllabus data

23. Relevant Literature: TIMS • JPATS GBTS Components • Aircrew Training Devices • Development Courseware • Standardized Courseware • Operational Support Segment (includes TIMS) • Modification and Update Support System • Computer-Based Training System • Deployed At Training Bases: • Randolph AFB, Laughlin AFB, Columbus AFB, Vance AFB, Sheppard AFB, Moody AFB • NAS Pensacola, NAS Corpus Christi, NAS Whiting, NAS Kingsville, and NAS Meridian • Any New Tool should be able to interface with TIMS

24. Methodology • Modify Scheduling Tool • Easy to Use Interface • Use Scheduling Rules • Notional 120-Days Training Schedule • Based on AETC Training Manual • Simulated Attrition Environment • Failure Rates • Failure Types • Rescheduling Failure • Analysis of Schedules

25. Training Schedule Sortie Schedule Simulation Schedule Methodology: Proposed System • Generates Squadron & Flight Schedules Based on Training Plan • Generates Flights’ Schedules in Advance • Re-Schedules Weekly Schedules Based on Feedback Statistics • Scheduling Tool • Aircraft Sortie • Simulation • Classroom Maintenance Resources/ Manpower Training Goals Squadron Scheduling

26. Training Schedule Simulation Schedule Sortie Schedule Methodology • Modify Current Software • Visual Basic for Applications to Write Codes • User-Friendly Buttons for Ease of Use • Scheduling Rules • Use of VIM With Man-in-the-Loop Training Goals Aircraft Availability Flight Scheduling

27. Methodology: VIM Software Implementation Classroom Requests Simulation Requests Sortie Requests Pick Scheduling Rule Generate Schedules Confirm Schedules Man-in-the-Loop Output Schedules

28. Squadron Scheduling Priority Scheduling Dispatch Rules Largest Number of Requests Longest Processing Time (LPT) Flight Behind Training Schedule Minimum Slack (MS) Class Seniority Least Flexible Job (LFJ) Scheduling Priorities and Dispatch Rules

29. Methodology: Scheduling Algorithm Flow

30. Methodology: Scheduling Algorithm 1.Scheduler input flights’ requests and special requirements. 2.Scheduler selects appropriate flight priority (dispatch rule) 3.Software prioritize flight requests based on selected priority (dispatch rule) 4.Assigns flight request based on the priority to appropriate time-slots a.Assign sortie requests b.Assign simulator requests 5.Scheduler modify schedule if necessary. Repeat step 2 if new prioritization is needed. 6. Finalize schedules.

31. An Interactive DSS for Scheduling Fighter Pilot Training Demonstration

32. Menus • Forms – User Interfaces/ Menus • Buttons – Navigation

33. Menu Driven Data Input • Input screen can limit input to specific data • Group multiple pages

34. Schedule: Sorties

35. Schedule: Simulators

36. Schedule: Classrooms

37. De-conflict Schedules • Shows Availability • Empty Highlighted Yellow • Format/Conditional Formatting

38. Sim Pods Availability • Highlighted Yellow shows availability for Sim pods.

39. Jet Contract

40. Form 18/Master Schedule

41. Print Menu • Print schedules • Single forms • All

42. Summary • VIM approach allows man in the loop • Model is easy to use • Builds from known format • Flexible entry • Point and click • Checks for proper data • Model can be imported into TIMS

43. Questions?

44. Back Up

45. Methodology: Attrition • 15.9% Historical Rate • Operations: 0.0% • Maintenance: 0.4% • Weather: 13.4% • Others: 2.1%

46. 24 Weeks Notional Sortie Training Schedule Training Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Training Requirement 0 2 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Training Week 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Total Training Requirement 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 100 24 Weeks Notional Training Schedule

47. 24 Weeks Notional Training Schedule

48. Methodology: Training Plan • Notional 120 Training Syllabus • 100 Sortie Full Requirement • 96 Sortie Minimum • Even Distribution • Notional Daily Requirements Based on Previous Plan