Update of knowledge-based aircraft performance software enhances the calculation of reserve fuel requirements

Citation

(2008), "Update of knowledge-based aircraft performance software enhances the calculation of reserve fuel requirements", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780aab.011

Update of knowledge-based aircraft performance software enhances the calculation of reserve fuel requirements

Update of knowledge-based aircraft performance software enhances the calculation of reserve fuel requirements

PACE, a provider of knowledge-based engineering applications, recently announced Pacelab Mission/SCAP 4.0, the latest release of its software suite for in-flight and airfield performance analysis. The new version claims a host of enhancements and additional features geared toward the optimisation of reserve fuel calculations.

The calculation of fuel requirements is one of the most critical aspects of flight planning both in terms of safety and cost. For every operation, a careful trade-off must be made between rigorous international safety standards and the economic imperatives of a highly competitive marketplace. Pacelab Mission 4.0 supports this task with enhanced calculation capabilities enabling the investigation of reclearance scenarios in the context of route and flight profile analyses.

Reclearance procedures are a common practice to reduce the permissible minimum amount of reserve fuel. A reclearance flight is initially planned to an airport closer than the final destination, taking advantage of the fact that a large portion of the required reserve fuel is dependent on range. If sufficient fuel is available at a specific decision point, the flight can be “redirected” to the final destination.

Pacelab Mission 4.0, the dedicated tool for in-flight performance, enables operators to determine both the ideal and the optimum decision point under specific physical-geographical conditions. The savings potential of individual reclearance scenarios – which can amount to several tons for long-range flights – is integral part of Pacelab Mission's comprehensive output reporting.

In the new release, the calculation of reserve fuel requirements is further improved by accounting for the entire set of compliance alternatives (holding versus contingency reserves) described in the relevant regulations of the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAR-OPS 1.255).