Effects of the design mismatch between aircraft capabilities and actual aircraft utilization

Abstract

Air routes are largely determined by the interaction of geographical, political, economic and social factors. And airlines use their aircraft for a diversity of missions. Because of both factors the actual utilization of transport aircraft is well inside the payload-range envelope, which means that the designs are oversized for most flights. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the savings that could be achieved if transport aircraft were designed for shorter ranges; i.e., closer to the actual utilization pattern. In this design scenario, the maximum take-off weight and the operating empty weight would be remarkably reduced. This would lead to a reduction in aircraft price, trip fuel, maintenance cost, and landing and navigation charges as well as environmental impact. Direct operating cost as will be used as figure of merit of the reduced range approach.