Fuel Conservation Technology Development and Use in Large Transport Category Aircraft

Critical to the survivability of any organization utilizing large turbine powered aircraft in a commercial setting is the ability to provide reliable service at a competitive cost. In the cost competitive market that such businesses find themselves in today, a very real advantage, both from an economical cost and environmental cost, is to explore ways to reduce the amount of jet fuel used during aircraft operation. While the development of more efficient aircraft has always been a key developmental improvement of aircraft since Orville and Wilbur Wright's flights in 1903, it was not until the Energy Crisis of 1973 that serious research and development of such technologies for large aircraft took on new importance. Critical to these efforts have been technological developments that make aircraft more efficient, either through active or passive systems that reduce an aircraft fuel consumption and also decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Discussion will include efforts to reduce aerodynamic drag, increasing engine fuel burn efficiency, and technologies that change the basic operation of the aircraft with an eye to fuel usage reductions. Several of these improvements are now commonplace among aircraft builders and aircraft operations, while others proved to be either too complex to be fielded by aircraft operators, or not effective enough to justify their development or implementation cost. Developments in the advance of aircraft fuel efficiency have continued since then. With current global efforts to combat climate change, these efforts for fuel efficiency, and thus a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, have taken on a new importance. As such, current trends and technology developments will also be discussed, as well as an emphasis on future developments.