A monthly squadron sortie scheduling model for improved combat readiness

Abstract

An integer programming approach is taken to planning sorties for an operational squadron in the U.S. Navy. The model is designed as a decision aid for squadron operations officers in the planning of monthly flight schedules with the goal of maximizing squadron combat readiness by maximizing a weighted sum of readiness levels over all mission areas. Squadrons in each aviation community try to maximize readiness by flying training 'events', subject to certain restrictions including: limited funding, limited availability of training facilities, a required number of aircraft per flight, flight time equity among pilots, and maintaining minimum levels of readiness in each mission area. An integer programming model, applicable to most squadron types, is implemented on a PC to maximize squadron readiness subject to those restrictions. The model is programmed in the GAMS language and solved in 5 minutes on 80486/33MHz computer with the XA solver. The output is a matrix of pilot-to-event assignments and shows the projected squadron readiness following the implementation of the proposed monthly schedule.