Cruise Altitude and Speed Optimization Implemented in a Pilot Decision Support Tool

Abstract

A speed and altitude optimization application for Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) platforms has been developed that integrates an aircraft's planned route, weight, speed, and weather conditions to compute the fuel savings of altered cruise trajectories. Improved speed and altitude efficiency awareness has the potential to impact pilot route planning, air traffic control requests, and tactical decisionmaking. With current cockpit technology, pilots are not always presented with sufficient information to improve trajectory efficiency with respect to altitude and speed given operational constraints. In order to evaluate the effects of this additional information, a scenario-based human-in-the-loop usability study is performed for the proposed EFB application. Preliminary results from the study provide insight on the effects of improved speed and altitude efficiency information on pilot workload and decision-making. I. BackgroundThis study focuses on developing a decision support tool to provide a graphical representation of the aircraft fuel efficiency environment along the aircraft flight path to aid in trajectory decisions and negotiations with air traffic control. Most aircraft operate off of optimal altitude and speeds during the cruise phase of flight. As shown in Figure 1 below, the typical operating regime for a narrow body jet is faster and off of optimal Mach and altitude in terms of optimal Specific Ground Range (SGR). The SGR is the distance over the ground flown per unit fuel, accounting for wind and temperature. Although speed inefficiency can be accounted for by airline schedule and time related cost constraints, altitude optimization may be possible with the addition of the right decision support tools. Figure 1: Typical Narrow Body Jet Efficiency ContoursDownloaded by PURDUE UNIVERSITY on June 21, 2016 | http://arc.aiaa.org |