Managing fuel in aircraft

摘要

A method and apparatus for managing aircraft. Data about components for the aircraft is identified. Fuel efficiency of the aircraft is identified using the data about the components for the aircraft and a model of the aircraft. The model of the aircraft identifies fuel use. The aircraft is managed using the fuel efficiency identified for the aircraft.

主权项

1. A method for determining a quantity of reserve fuel available for an aircraft in flight, the method comprising:
continuously identifying in substantially real-time, using a computer system, a data comprised by a component in a number of components comprised by the aircraft; continuously identifying in substantially real-time, using the computer system, an actual fuel efficiency of the aircraft; continuously comparing in substantially real-time, using the computer system, the actual fuel efficiency of the aircraft to a predicted fuel efficiency of the aircraft, the predicted fuel efficiency being based upon a model of fuel use for a type comprised by the aircraft; continuously generating in substantially real-time, by using the computer system and comparing the actual fuel efficiency of the aircraft to the predicted fuel efficiency of the aircraft, a fuel efficiency index for the aircraft; and continuously computing, in substantially real-time, by using the computer system and the fuel efficiency index of the aircraft, the quantity of reserve fuel available for the aircraft in flight.