Save fuel and minimum cost index
Question to the techs out there?
Flying speeds lower than LRC is at the present a standard in our ops.
To me it was always clear the most economical speed is LRC (assumtion - no wind of course) taking into account a certain margin for cruise stability over minimum fuel flow.
Nowadays we fly well below this established speeds assuming a cost index of close to zero is minimum cost.
Flying nose high and always behind the drag curve with higher thrust setting is biting into the flight plan fuel.
In the case of a B767 there was in the old days when beancounters had no say a certain cost index, i recall something like 40 - 60 as minimum for the speed not getting too slow for real live.
Is there an aswer somewhere?
thanks for any story on this matter