The effect of flight distance on fuel mileage and CO₂ per passenger kilometer

ABSTRACT

In this study, the effect of distance on fuel mileage (fuel burn per nautical mile) and CO₂ intensity, based on a large amount of actual flight data, is discussed for narrow-body commercial aircraft performing domestic flights for flight distances of between ∼200 and ∼800 NM, in Turkey. For twenty-nine domestic routes, the average CO₂ intensity is calculated to be 88 gr/pa-km, with an 80% load factor, ranging from between 112 gr/pa-km (207 gr/pa-NM) for the shortest route and 78 gr/pa-km (145 gr/pa-NM) for the longest route. An overall runway-to-runway analysis reveals that the average flight fuel consumption increases by 5.1 kg for each additional nautical mile. The discussion is extended to cover wind effect, through westbound and eastbound flights, on fuel consumption. The average fuel mileage of the eastbound flights, above 30 kft, is found to be 11.2% lower than those for the westbound flights. A sensitivity analysis is also carried out to reveal the effects of three main flight performance parameters, namely, cruise altitude, cruise speed and aircraft mass on the cruise CO₂ intensity.

KEYWORDS:

• Commercial aircraft
• Carbon dioxide intensity
• Flight distance
• Fuel efficiency
• Wind effect

Nomenclature

FDR	=	Flight data record
GHG	=	Greenhouse gas
GS	=	Ground speed (knot)
ICAO	=	International Civil Aviation Organization
IST	=	International Istanbul Ataturk Airport
SEE	=	Standard error of estimates
TAS	=	True air speed (knot)
TMA	=	Terminal Maneuver Area

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) (ProjectNo.111Y048) and Anadolu University Scientific Research Project Commissions (ProjectNo.1205F091) of Turkey. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Turkish Airlines (THY) as a partner in the projects which has provided access to actual flight data.

Additional information

Funding

TUBITAK, 111Y048 Anadolu University, 1205F091.