Fuel saving
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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Make every effort to optimise your TOD point, don't just assume the FMC knows best.
Penalty on a 757 averages 8 kg per mile whether you start down too early or too late.
Penalty on a 757 averages 8 kg per mile whether you start down too early or too late.
Join Date: May 2005
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Re Single Engine Taxi.
On the Taxi Out it's discretionary but we're only realizing less than 20% in practice. Crews say the initial thrust requirement is too high (40%+ N1) and in a crowded gate area thats a safety issue - fair enough. They also say it's too hard to manouevre on 1 eng. Not sure I buy that one. The older guys say it's easy enough once you have a few under your belt.
Both of the above lead me think towing procedures might actually be improved. Tow the fin out of the gate area and to a line up point where they see the taxi route / lineup.
On the Taxi Out it's discretionary but we're only realizing less than 20% in practice. Crews say the initial thrust requirement is too high (40%+ N1) and in a crowded gate area thats a safety issue - fair enough. They also say it's too hard to manouevre on 1 eng. Not sure I buy that one. The older guys say it's easy enough once you have a few under your belt.
Both of the above lead me think towing procedures might actually be improved. Tow the fin out of the gate area and to a line up point where they see the taxi route / lineup.
Join Date: Mar 2008
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My lecturer always love to stress that to save fuel you must "reduce drag"
This can be done loads of ways, most of which are to do with design of the aircarft such as wing tips, smaller cross sectional areas, clean frames, blah blah blah
Another good way of reducing fuel burn is good airmanship; sticking to the aircrafts best climb speed, cruise speed, glide approaches, keeping the aircraft in trim and insync with relative airflow.
And of course I can't forget reducing weight, however this can get a little silly (as i'm sure we'll see in the future) with airlines having their pilots shave their moustaches off in order to save the money in fuel.
This can be done loads of ways, most of which are to do with design of the aircarft such as wing tips, smaller cross sectional areas, clean frames, blah blah blah
Another good way of reducing fuel burn is good airmanship; sticking to the aircrafts best climb speed, cruise speed, glide approaches, keeping the aircraft in trim and insync with relative airflow.
And of course I can't forget reducing weight, however this can get a little silly (as i'm sure we'll see in the future) with airlines having their pilots shave their moustaches off in order to save the money in fuel.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Since turbine engines are very inefficient at idle, it has been suggested from time to time that pulling the plug on one donk during descent might be worthwhile. Of course then there's the matter of restarting it when the workload is already high, "Plan B" if it doesn't start, OEI go-arounds, etc. 
But it would help keep the front office awake.
But it would help keep the front office awake.
