Discrete Event Simulation

Airport simulation + design.
FlexSim DES across terminals, apron, baggage.

Passenger flow, baggage handling system throughput, apron movement, terminal queuing, runway and taxiway capacity. 1,000+ engineering studies, 21-country delivery, every model signed by a Chartered Engineer (CEng MIE).
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What we simulate.

VB Engineering builds FlexSim discrete-event models for the full airport operational chain. Each model is constructed from operations data, validated against historical performance, and stress-tested against design-day and disruption scenarios.

Passenger flow

Check-in queues, security screening, immigration, gate boarding. Detect chokepoints at design-day peak hour and recommend layout interventions.

Baggage handling

BHS throughput, sortation logic, redirect on failure, late-bag recovery. Validates the BHS design against IATA Level of Service criteria.

Apron + airside

Pushback tug routing, ground service equipment, fueling, catering, taxiway throughput, runway capacity under weather constraints.

Terminal commercial

Retail dwell, F+B queuing, lounge capacity. Optimises commercial revenue against passenger flow comfort.

Operational disruption

Weather diversions, security incidents, BHS failure, runway closure. Stress-tests the contingency plan against quantitative recovery KPIs.

Pre-commissioning capacity

Validates a new or expanded terminal against design-day throughput before opening. Catches gate assignment, security lane sizing, BHS recovery loop issues pre-go-live.

The deliverable shape.

Every airport simulation deliverable is built to the same five-part structure. The model is the proof. The report is the audit trail. The recommendations are the executable artifact.

The FlexSim model

Native .fsm file delivered to the client. Runs on FlexSim license at the client side. Documented with parameter sheets and assumption log.

Verification + validation

Verification against build spec. Validation against historical operations data. Sensitivity analysis on the top three input drivers. ASA VV+A framework compliant.

KPI scorecard

Passenger experience KPIs, BHS throughput KPIs, gate utilisation, apron movement metrics. Each KPI shown against design target and current actual.

Recommendation register

Specific layout, process, or technology interventions tied to the KPI gaps. Each recommendation costed at order-of-magnitude.

CEng MIE signature

Every section signed by a Chartered Engineer. Audit-ready, regulator-ready, lender-ready.

Frequently asked.

Which simulation platform does VB Engineering use for airport projects?

FlexSim Discrete Event Simulation as the primary platform. AnyLogic and Simio for hybrid agent-based work. Every airport simulation is built to ISA-95 data structures and validated against ASA criteria for Verification, Validation, and Accreditation.

What airport operations can be simulated?

Passenger flow through check-in, security, immigration, gate boarding. Baggage handling system throughput, redirect logic, and recovery from belt failures. Apron movement of pushback tugs, ground service equipment, fueling, catering. Terminal queuing at retail and F+B. Runway and taxiway throughput under weather constraints.

How is a typical airport simulation engagement scoped?

Four weeks for a single terminal scope. Eight weeks for a full landside-to-airside model. Twelve to sixteen weeks for a multi-terminal airport with apron, baggage, and security integrated. Every model is delivered with a CEng MIE signature, a verification report, and a sensitivity analysis on the top three input drivers.

Does VB Engineering deliver pre-commissioning capacity studies for new terminals?

Yes. Pre-commissioning capacity validation is a frequent scope. The simulation runs against design-day, peak-hour, and disruption scenarios. Outcomes feed into terminal layout final-fix, gate assignment policy, and contingency procedures.

Is the simulation output linked to BIM or digital twin?

Yes when the client has a BIM or digital twin in place. The FlexSim model imports IFC geometry and the result KPIs are published to the digital twin layer for live-vs-design comparison. The Wistwin platform extends this into the operational ARR phase.

Scoping an airport simulation?

Tell us the airport, the operational question, and the timeline. We will scope the model, the data needs, and the delivery weeks within 48 hours.

Scope your model