Fuel Benefit from Optimal Trajectory Assignment on the North Atlantic Tracks
Name
2016_Henry_thesis_ICAT_Copy.pdf
Size
8.13 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e9fde4afcc6c34e3bf60208bc452a8f0
Author(s)
Tran, Henry
Hansman, R. John
Date Issued
May 24, 2016
Series/Report no.
ICAT;ICAT-2016-03
Abstract
The North Atlantic Tracks represent one of the highest density international traffic regions in the world. Due to the lack of high-resolution radar coverage over this region, the tracks are subject to more restrictive operational constraints than flights over the continental U.S. Recent initiatives to increase surveillance over the North Atlantic has motivated studies on the total benefit potential for increased surveillance over the tracks. One of the benefits of increased surveillance is increased accessibility of optimal altitude and speed operations over the track system. For a sample of 4033 flights over 12 days from 2014-2015, a fuel burn analysis was performed that calculates the fuel burn from optimal altitude, optimal speed and optimal track trajectories over the North Atlantic Tracks. These results were compared with calculated as-flown fuel burn in order to determine the benefit potential from optimal trajectories. Operation at optimal altitude and speed increased this benefit to 2.83% reduction potential in average fuel burn. Operation at optimal altitude alone, however, reduces the benefit potential to 1.24% reduction in average fuel burn. Optimal track assignment allows for a 3.20% reduction in average fuel burn. For the sample data, 45.1% of flights were unable to access their optimal altitude and speed due to separation requirements. Reduced separation up to 5 nautical miles can decrease the number of conflicts to 14.0%. Reducing the separation requirements both longitudinally and laterally can allow for increased accessibility of optimal altitudes, speeds and track configurations. Pilot decision support tools that increase awareness of aircraft fuel performance by integrating optimal altitude and speed configurations can also reduce aircraft fuel burn. The utility of such a tool is evaluated through a survey on pilot-decision making.
Subjects
fuel burn
air transportation
North Atlantic
Electronic Flight Bag
Persistent DSpace Link
