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frankthetank
Fusion
Joined: Sep 16, 2004
Posts: 4446
Location: Southwest WI
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 Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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Maybe AP knows about this?
| Quote: | Southwest Airlines started flying slower about two months ago, and projects it will save $42 million in fuel this year by extending each flight by one to three minutes.
On one Northwest Airlines flight from Paris to Minneapolis earlier this week alone, flying slower saved 162 gallons of fuel, saving the airline $535. It added eight minutes to the flight, extending it to eight hours, 58 minutes. |
I was behind a semi today going 60mph down the interstate.
| Quote: | That meant flying at an average speed of 532 mph, down from the usual 542 mph.
"It's not a dramatic change," said Dave Fuller, director of flight operations at JetBlue, which began flying slower two years ago.
But the savings add up. JetBlue adds an average of just under two minutes to each flight, and saves about $13.6 million a year in jet fuel. Adding just four minutes to its flights to and from Hawaii saves Northwest Airlines $600,000 a year on those flights alone.
United Airlines has invested in flight planning software that helps pilots choose the best routes and speeds. In some cases, that means planes fly at lower speeds. United estimates the software will save it $20 million a year. |
They can only go so slow or else they'll actually use more fuel. There is a "sweet spot" for speed.
Cool stuff. Sooner or later they'll run out of tricks.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24410809/
_________________
"Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07 |
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AirlinePilot
Moderator
Joined: Apr 05, 2005
Posts: 2472
Location: South of Atlanta
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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| Southwest might have just recently started doing that, but the rest of us have been doing it for YEARS. No kidding. |
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cube
Fusion
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Joined: Mar 12, 2005
Posts: 3574
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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no offense but the number of creative gimmicks the airlines are coming up with these days to save a buck amazes me.  |
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whereagles
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Aug 17, 2005
Posts: 580
Location: Portugal
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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| AirlinePilot wrote: | | Southwest might have just recently started doing that, but the rest of us have been doing it for YEARS. No kidding. |
Roger that. I've been in EU-US trips where the plane (747) could easily go 900 km/h but was cruising nice and steady at 750. This was back when oil was $30 a barrel....  |
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vision-master
Fusion
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4374
Location: Minneapolis, MN
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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| an remember the jet stream........... |
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efarmer
Heavy Crude
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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Wait until they take the wings off and run them on the highway
for the short trips. This will allow them to save even more and
the rumor is, they will put an additional 3 honey roast peanuts
in every pouch and stop at Cracker Barrel for meals. The state
troopers will have a field day writing speeding tickets but I
imagine the flyboys will learn to convoy and suck Smokey's
hat off by revving the turbine when he approaches the
fuselage. |
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SolarDave
Heavy Crude
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: 380
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| Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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| AirlinePilot wrote: | | Southwest might have just recently started doing that, but the rest of us have been doing it for YEARS. No kidding. |
Hi, AP, tell me - between GPS and precise fuel-flow measurements, is there any reason why an autopilot could not set the speed to achieve maximum fuel economy and adjust it real-time (like peak-power-point tracking in solar controllers) - or its that already a "button" you can push?
Also, do you know what the peak fuel efficiency speed would likely be for any of the planes you fly, or is it not that simple?
Thanks,
David
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Posted from a Solar/Pedal Powered Computer |
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AirlinePilot
Moderator
Joined: Apr 05, 2005
Posts: 2472
Location: South of Atlanta
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| Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Airplanes slowing down to save fuel |
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| SolarDave wrote: | Hi, AP, tell me - between GPS and precise fuel-flow measurements, is there any reason why an autopilot could not set the speed to achieve maximum fuel economy and adjust it real-time (like peak-power-point tracking in solar controllers) - or its that already a "button" you can push?
Also, do you know what the peak fuel efficiency speed would likely be for any of the planes you fly, or is it not that simple?
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The efficient "cruise control" your thinking of can work on the latest models, but older aircraft wont have the capability.
Its not something thats done yet though.
Most efficient speeds depend on weight, winds and weather, and weight and balance issues. They change significantly every flight. |
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