This paper compares fuel consumption of descent trajectories from cruise altitude to meter fix when the required time of arrival is later than the nominal time of arrival at the meter fix. The required delay, which is the difference between the nominal and the required times of arrival, is achieved by either slowing down the aircraft in the cruise and descent phases or flying a longer route at a constant altitude. Performance models of 10 different Boeing and Airbus aircraft, obtained from the Base of Aircraft Data, are employed for generating the results. It is demonstrated that the most fuel-efficient speed-control strategy for absorbing delay is first reducing descent speed as much as possible and then reducing cruise speed. This is a common finding for all 10 aircraft considered. For some aircraft, flying at a fixed flight-path angle and constant Mach number/calibrated airspeed results in lower fuel consumption compared to standard descent at idle thrust and constant Mach number/calibrated airspeed. Finally, for the cases examined, it is shown that executing a path-stretch maneuver at cruise altitude and descent at a reduced speed is more fuel efficient than inserting an intermediate-altitude cruise segment.


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    Title :

    Comparison of Fuel Consumption of Descent Trajectories Under Arrival Metering


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Journal of Aircraft ; 53 , 6 ; 1853-1864


    Publication date :

    2016-07-26


    Size :

    12 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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