Fuel Challenges Facing U.S. Airlines

This article explores the current fuel challenges facing U.S. airlines. The author notes that U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have a vested interested in ensuring access to an affordable and reliable supply of jet fuel. The author outlines the airlines’ operational and planning techniques currently in use aimed at saving fuel and optimizing fuel purchases. The author then discusses the interplay between the existing air traffic control (ATC) system and these current fuel challenges. The ATC system was not designed with fuel conservation in mind, nor was it built to accommodate present traffic levels. The next-generation ATC may hold some hope in these areas. For example, the use of area navigation (RNAV), a method of navigation that permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the coverage of station-referenced navigation aids, results in reduced fuel burn, reduced dependence on radar vectoring, and increased airspace capacity. The author uses illustrations of operations during an RNAV trial at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (Georgia), as well as the use of Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) at Louisville (Kentucky) airport.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/37505394
• Authors:
  • Heimlich, John
• Publication Date: 2006-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: pp 28-31
• Serial:
  • International Airport Review
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Russell Publishing Limited
  • ISSN: 1366-6339
  • Serial URL: http://www.russellpublishing.com/pages/airport/airport1.html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Airport operations; Airspace; Aviation fuels; Costs; Environmental quality; Fuel conservation; Specifications
• Identifier Terms: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Louisville International Airport
• Uncontrolled Terms: Continuous Descent Approach
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Energy; Environment; Finance; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01033382
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 29 2006 10:36AM