Francesco Castelluccio

Travelling towards and from minor islands through non-conventional air transport: demand and cost analysis

This research addresses the role of innovative forms of passenger air transport in favouring the mobility of tourists visiting minor islands. In particular, we studied the feasibility of scheduled transport services using a helicopter and a seaplane for rapidly connecting Sicily in the south of Italy to the near and very attractive Eolie Islands. In order to estimate the potential service demand, we allowed for the number of tourists arriving in the Eolie Archipelago during the period 1999-2008. In detail, we considered only the market of visitors with a high willingness-to-pay for time savings (individuals choosing superior hotels) coming from origins at least 300 km away from the Eolie Islands. Furthermore, we excluded a quota of travellers not disposed to flying, determined on the basis of a previous study about air transport demand. We also considered as potential users of the proposed transport services a percentage of the Eolie Isles’ population that was set according to a recent study about the use of air transport by Sicilian residents. The resulting observations were employed to estimate forecasts through an ARIMA model. After a technical analysis to identify the types of helicopter and seaplane suited to implementing regular transport services, we performed a cost analysis concerning the proposed non-conventional air transport services (taking into account fixed, variable, trading and financial costs). In particular, based on the ARIMA model demand forecasts, we determined the service supply (daily frequency and number of aircrafts) in the different cases and evaluated the related total cost per passenger. At the final step, we compared the helicopter and seaplane options with the various existing transport alternatives that can be used to get to the Eolie Islands

GIS Infomobility for Travellers

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are essential systems to support decisions on territorial and environmental aspects. But they not always have been properly used for this purpose. Only in recent years GIS have been getting better used for the planning, management and control of the territory. The application of GIS to the transport sector has become relevant both for management and decision-making in support of Public Administration (PA) and citizens. GIS are particularly useful for roads and routing graphs management capabilities as well as for searching the most suitable path. The results achieved in this research activity aimed to evaluate different road graphs, proprietary and free ones, in order to compare calculated distances and travel times.

Cost analysis for a future helicopter for passenger transport

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the parameters that influence the cost competitiveness of helicopter services for scheduled passenger transport on a regional area. Design/methodology/approach – The approach used is based on an analysis of demand and on a bi-level model (modal split model – service supply optimization model) optimization. Performance optimization in the supply of helicopter transport services is obtained by a sensitivity analysis on the recognized cost factors. Findings – The identification of the variation margins in the cost factors that might make an helicopter competitive for scheduled passenger services. Research limitations/implications – The inability to consider the totality of the helicopters today on the market due to lack of available data on their cost structure. Practical implications – It is represented by the opportunity of the spread of the helicopter through the strengthening of the competitive position in relation to other transport modes for passenger transport ser...

A DEA-based transport heliports’ efficiencies evaluation

Purpose – The purpose of the study is the evaluation of the efficiencies of a group of small Italian airports and the comparison with a set of transport heliports to show the difference in the productivity of the two types of infrastructures. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used for the evaluation is the data envelopment analysis (DEA). Findings – The better performance of the heliports compared to the small inefficient airports. Research limitations/implications – This research is limited by the field of application and the weaknesses of the DEA methodology. However, it could be the first step for further works that will include more accurate models. Practical implications – The study suggests the conversion of the small inefficient airports into heliports feeding traffic towards the major hubs. The use of helicopters to reach poor accessible areas represents an alternative mode of transport. Originality/value – This is the first case of application of the DEA methodology to a group of heli...

A comparative analysis between helicopter and seaplane for passenger transport

Purpose This study aims to develop a methodology to compare the feasibility of helicopter and seaplane regular transport of passengers towards destinations across a remote regional tourist context, where a lack of road and rail infrastructure make these alternative forms of air transport competitive. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a modal split model identifying the quota of passengers that potentially could utilize these two types of services, determined on the basis of previous studies on air transport demand. A technical analysis regarding transport supply is performed to identify the predominant features that should characterize helicopter/seaplane performances. An optimization model is applied to identify the routes that could overcome the breakeven point considering each of the two means of transport. The paper also takes into account the importance of each type of service and its influence on flight infrastructure costs. Findings Helicopter and seaplane services could improve the access for tourists with high values of time. The helicopter transport could capture a market share ranging from 5 to 20 per cent of tourist travel demand (the amphibian seaplane from 1 to 14 per cent). The shuttle services could be profitable especially for those regional origin–destination pairs involving the two major airports and the most UNESCO visited locations such as Agrigento and the Aeolian Archipelago (into the analyzed context of Sicily). The comparison between the two modes of transport shows that the helicopter has best performances and the seaplane has to land/take-off from sea. Research limitations/implications The lack of data on the performances of the whole world production of seaplanes and helicopters (such as Russian, Chinese or US old machines) could give a distortion of the result. On the other hand, all mostly used machines in the world at the moment are considered. A survey on the fear of flight and on the choice between the two different forms of air transport could give a more precise result. Practical implications From an economic point of view, an operator could choose with more confidence the means of transport to use under different conditions. The activation of passenger services with seaplanes and helicopters can give an impulse to the growth of little operators and to the tourism. So, this study could be a starting point for authorities to plan a regional network of little general aviation airfields and seadromes (located in the great lakes or near the ports) near the major tourist locations. It could make possible to develop a synergic regional commuting traffic involving the seaplane and the helicopter. Social implications Seaplanes and helicopters represent the most important means of transport when poor accessibility conditions and need of ready and fast connections coexist, for example, the commuting between airports and remote regions or downtowns with high tourist or business impact. The activation of passenger services with seaplanes and helicopters can give an impulse to the growth of little operators and to the tourism, consequently to the regional accessibility and economy. Originality/value There is a lack of studies involving the comparison between seaplanes and helicopters. This study could represent an important means to analyze the parameters that influence the possibility of activation for this kind of services and to find the factors that influence the feasibility of business with the two different machines. The encouraging performances of the flying boat suggest a future development of an innovative model of medium- and/or high-capacity amphibian seaplane dedicated to passenger transport. It should have take-off/landing performances less dependent on the sea state.

Heliport network planning through OR methods and use of GIS

Purpose The purpose of the study is to modify the plan of a network of heliport for HEMS, civil protection and transport proposed by the regional government through the combined use of linear programming and GIS techniques. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used for the evaluation is based on the application of a set covering model. Findings An optimal solution was obtained that allows savings in relation to the plan proposed by the regional government by ensuring the best coverage of the whole territory. Research limitations/implications This research is limited by the field of application and the weaknesses of the linear programming techniques. However, it could be the first step for further works that will include more accurate models. Practical implications The study suggests the reorganization of the network of heliports; this would be a fundamental step to improve the services supplied by the helicopters, such as HEMS, civil protection, SAR, aerial work, firefighting and transport, especially in a region characterized by a poor accessibility. Originality/value This is the first study on the application of the combined use of open-source GIS software and OR methods for planning a heliport network.

Indicators for sustainable mobility in the cities

The creation of a sustainable transport system is the main objective of the European transport policy. This system should encourage facilities to connect all people and should be linked with economic, social and environmental aspects of society. Current trends and future challenges will meet a growing “accessibility” demand, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of transport. Therefore one of the priorities of transport policy is the improving of overall quality of transport, including aspects related to: personal safety, accidents and health hazards reduction, protection of passengers rights and of accessibility to remote areas. This paper is dedicated to sustainable development, with particular attention to urban transport and to daily mobility of citizens. It is important to analyze all the aspects that make it possible to clarify a definition of “sustainable transport”. Their analysis has to be related to the individuation of a set of indicators that simultaneously take into account the three dimensions of sustainability: environment, economy and social issues. This, set should help to take decisions on policy and planning of urban transport systems. A limited and easily available set of indicators is more convenient to be used, but it may overlook important impacts, thus distorting planning decisions. A broad set of indicators can propose more quality in terms of completeness, but it has characterized by incredible data collection costs and by serious difficulties of interpretation. This study is based on the results of a survey carried out to verify feasibility and usefulness of such indicators for sustainable urban mobility in a particular territory. Values assumed by economic, environmental and social indicators are referred to the city of Palermo. A survey on family shifts was carried out in this city. It aims to the creation of a set of indicators that would allow comparison between different urban transport strategies. Finally, we analyze the possibility to generalize the proposed