Analysis of Departure and Arrival Profiles Using Real-Time Aircraft Data

The quantity and rate of fuel burned during aircraft operations forms the basis of all emission inventories at airports. The international standard for calculating fuel burn and emissions produced is the landing and takeoff cycle of the International Civil Aviation Organization and forms the basis for many emission inventory models and emission charging schemes at airports. The acquisition of real-time aircraft flight data recorder information provided a unique opportunity to compare actual operational fuel flows and times in mode to the International Civil Aviation Organization standard. For departures, there is tremendous variety in fuel flow patterns, rates of fuel flow, and times in mode. Only 67% of the flights analyzed show a classic transition from takeoff to climbout. Most of the remaining flights showed essentially flat-line fuel flow profiles. All aircraft showed some fuel flow rates indicative of reduced-thrust departures. The certificated values for departure fuel burn matched favorably to the real-time totals for four-engine aircraft. However, for the twin-engine aircraft in this study, total departure fuel burn was grossly overpredicted, due to shorter observed departure times in mode. The average approach times in mode were slightly higher than the International Civil Aviation Organization norm, but approach fuel flow rates were significantly lower, yielding lower total fuel burn values. In general, total fuel burn for both departures and arrivals is overestimated by the International Civil Aviation Organization method.