CONSERVATION OPTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORT

Air travel is the most rapidly growing and energy intensive means of transportation. This paper examines the fuel use of the domestic commercial airplane fleet. The potential energy savings from the adoption of specific conservation strategies are quantified. These strategies include increasing load factors, shifting traffic to more fuel-efficient modes, reducing cruise speeds, increasing cruise altitudes, flying direct routes, reducing delay times, modifying ground engine use, and decreasing fuel ferrying. Specific policy options for implementing these strategies are suggested. These options range from increasing research and development funding for ground tow vehicles to the complex questions of removing direct federal subsidies to local airlines or levying a tax on commercial aviation fuel. Increasing fuel prices will cause airlines to use fuel more efficiently. For example, the recent slowdown in cruise speeds by the domestic airlines is shown to be justified by increased fuel prices.

• Corporate Authors:

  Crane, Russak, and Company

  New York, NY  United States 
• Authors:
  • Pilati, D A
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 183-201
• Serial:
  • Energy Systems and Policy
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Crane, Russak, and Company

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation; Civil aircraft; Energy; Fuel consumption; Load factor; Prices; Traffic delays
• Uncontrolled Terms: Drive in theaters
• Old TRIS Terms: Commercial planes
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Energy; Highways; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00126967
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: NSF-RANN
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 14 1976 12:00AM