Flight Consolidation System for Reducing Aircraft Fuel Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passenger aircraft typically have low load factors, leading to high fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer, which is environmentally unsustainable and economically costly.
Innovation Solution
A method that optimizes fuel consumption by identifying underutilized flight routes and combining flights, using a system to retrieve and analyze flight data, determine passenger numbers, select appropriate aircraft, configure equipment characteristics, and perform flights within specific time windows to improve load factors and reduce the number of flights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple flights are operated on the same route within a time window, then passenger transport capacity is increased, but fuel consumption per passenger kilometer increases due to low load factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple flights (n≥2) operating on the same route within a time window T1 into a single consolidated flight. By merging these flights, the system consolidates passenger demand that would otherwise be distributed across multiple separate flights, thereby increasing the load factor and reducing fuel consumption per passenger kilometer while maintaining the same total passenger transport capacity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the number of flights is reduced to improve load factor, then fuel consumption per passenger kilometer decreases, but flight frequency and service availability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges n≥2 flights into a single flight, reducing the number of operations from n to 1. This consolidation maintains the total passenger transport capacity by combining the demand from multiple flights while operating a single aircraft, thereby reducing fuel consumption without sacrificing service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configuration of equipment characteristics Mm based on passenger data P. The aircraft configuration is adapted dynamically to match the actual passenger demand and preferences from the consolidated flights, optimizing both comfort and efficiency while maintaining service quality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If flights are consolidated to reduce the number of operations, then noise events around airports decrease, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates n≥2 flights into a single flight operation, thereby reducing the number of takeoffs and landings that generate noise events around airports. This merging approach directly reduces environmental harm while the systematic methodology provides clarity for managing the consolidated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis and configuration before the consolidated flight. Flight data F is retrieved and analyzed in advance, passenger data P is processed, and equipment characteristics Mm are pre-configured based on the consolidated passenger demand. This preliminary action simplifies the actual execution of the consolidated flight and reduces operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing the consumption of fuel by passenger aircraft in an air transportation system which includes at least two airports between which there is at least one flight route, having the following steps: a) retrieving flight data F relating to the airports from a first memory; b) determining a flight route along which a number of n≥2 flights, whose departure times are in a first time window T1 by means of n first passenger aircraft are carried out, from the flight data F; c) determining a total number of passengers Z of the n flights and storing the total number of passengers Z in a second memory; d) selecting m≤n−1 second passenger aircrafts with a total capacity of Gm≥Z for carrying out m flights; e) retrieving passenger data P of the n flights from a third memory and storing the passenger data P in the second memory; f) configuring equipment features Mm of the m second passenger aircrafts taking into account the passenger data P; g) carrying out the m flights along the determined flight route with the m second passenger aircrafts with departure times in the first time window T1.