Categories
In The News

Efficency End To End

From The Economist:

ENGINES on airliners are highly efficient when they are in flight, but not when operating on the ground. When a plane is taxiing under its own power, the engines burn vast amounts of fuel. A Boeing 747 can consume a tonne of fuel and emit several tonnes of carbon dioxide during an average 17-minute taxi to take-off. And when the aircraft lands there is likely to be another long drive to the passenger gate. Which is why there are various methods being developed for aircraft to use other means of propulsion while moving around an airport.

If you think about it, this was an area ripe for innovation for a long time now. Obviously having a second engine for taxi purposes on board is ruled out for weight and space reasons. Something external is obvious since these negatives are shed when it’s detached. Since engines would only need to start shortly before takeoff it would also mean less noise at airports.

It’s interesting that in engineering you focus on the primary use case and make it efficient. Once you’re done you continue to refine and make it more efficient. The folly is when you forget about other low hanging fruit near the edge cases, in this case when the plane is on the ground. While not a huge savings, it can potentially add up.

2 replies on “Efficency End To End”

The one bit the article doesn’t discuss is that engine management on the taxiways, right before takeoff, is important too.

It takes some amount of time to spool up the engines from off (not idle, off), and at big airports (KJFK, etc.), crews really piss off controllers when they get to the front of the line, and they’re not ready for takeoff (for this reason).

(It pisses off other crews trying to not-turn-into-pumpkins, too…)

I would assume they wouldn’t pull right up to the front of the line like that. I would think you’d have a check point of some sort for that. Maybe 3rd in line and you’re under self power for the rest?

I’m curious if you can actually spool up engines while being towed and moving, or if there’s a technical reason why they always seem to do so stopped. Other than potentially rolling and thus breaks are applied). Presumably whatever is used to tow could provide enough control against that.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *