Validation of a simulation model of the National Airspace System

A validation program has been developed to check the accuracy and validity of a simulation model being developed for the Federal Aviation Administration. The program is composed of four components: conceptual model validitation, input data validation, computerized model correctness checks, and operational validation. As part of the operational validation, model output is compared with three aviation delay databases which vary in their definitions and measurement of delay. Therefore, a major part of the validation program has been to determine adjustments that must be made to model output in order to make valid comparisons.