A Quantitative Study on the Benefits of Increasing The Frequency of Seeking Opportunities to Improve Fuel Efficiency for Oceanic Flights Using Satellite-Based Surveillance and Communication Technologies

Abstract

Satellite-based surveillance and communication technologies (S&C) (e.g., Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) – Contract (C) and Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC)) have been widely used to improve the air traffic management and flight operations in oceanic airspace. This study estimates the benefits of these technologies to flight operations in oceanic airspace. Specifically, we study the benefits of increasing the frequency of seeking opportunities to improve fuel efficiency in oceanic airspace using satellite-based S&C. A microscopic flight simulation model is applied to evaluate the fuel and travel time savings generated by increasing the frequency in the New York Flight Information Region (FIR). For a flight, we present a mathematical relationship between the frequency and its fuel savings in the FIR. The results show that in 2020 airlines can save more than 6 million dollars of fuel and 950 flight hours inside the New York FIR if pilots are able to seek the opportunities to improve fuel efficiency every 5 minutes during flights. The benefit estimates are primarily based on existing air traffic management rules (e.g., separation minima) and satellite-based S&C (e.g., ADS-C and CPDLC) in the New York FIR. We also analyze the increase in the pilots and air traffic controllers’ workload. The analysis can be used to estimate the additional costs due to the frequency increase. This study can help airlines and pilots to find a cost-effective way to seek opportunities to improve fuel efficiency in oceanic airspace using satellite-based S&C.