This paper proposes an arrival and departure flight sequencing method based on a multi-objective time-indexed model to address the increase in controller workload caused by potential conflicts and improve the enforceability of sequencing results. The length of potential conflict time is used to quantify the controller's workload in resolving conflicts. Taking the minimum delay time and conflict resolution load as the objective function, a time-indexed model is introduced to discretize the time period into time slots, allowing for the allocation of landing and takeoff time slots for each flight instead of fixed time points, thereby enhancing the enforceability of the sorting results. A genetic algorithm is designed to optimize the model, and the effectiveness of the model is verified using data from Tianjin Binhai International Airport. Experimental results demonstrate that the model effectively reduces total flight delay time and the controller's workload in solving potential conflicts under different weight combinations. Compared to actual operation scenarios and the first-come-first-served strategy, the optimization rate for flight delays is 11.25% and 11.87% for a weight combination of 0.2-0.8, and 9.70% and 10.34% for a weight combination of 0.1-0.9. The optimization rates for the controller's conflict resolution load are 28.70% and 37.90%, and 45.37% and 52.42% respectively. Therefore, in addition to reducing flight delays, the model significantly reduces potential conflict time, alleviates controller workload, and improves operational efficiency and safety in the terminal area. © 2023 Science Press. All rights reserved.
