Software Determines Optimum Climb, Cruise, Descent Times To
Reduce Emissions
Cessna announced the introduction
of GreenTrak Flight Planning software this week. The new flight
planning program for current production Citation operators
optimizes a flight profile not only for time and cost, but also for
the lowest carbon footprint as well.
GreenTrak is a proprietary system, the first offered by a
general aviation manufacturer that uses a process known as cost
indexing to minimize total trip cost by balancing the costs of
direct operation, fuel burn and carbon emissions. Cessna plans to
release GreenTrak as an upgrade option to its CESNAV program in
2010 for all current production Citations.
"Finally, we have a simple, easy-to-use program to optimize the
performance of a Citation, taking into account direct operating
costs, to reduce emissions and lower fuel costs anywhere from 8 to
16 percent, depending on the specific aircraft and mission," said
Mark Paolucci, Cessna senior vice president, Customer Service.
"GreenTrak gives operators a tool to lower the cost of operation by
tailoring mission speeds for climb, cruise and descent which
results in the lowest total trip cost."
GreenTrak will optimize business jet operations for proposed
regulatory programs such as "cap and trade" and for Europe's
planned Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Cessna already provides
Citation operators annual emissions estimates and application
support for ETS.
"Our system uses a principle similar to cost indexing programs
used by many airlines, but is unique to general aviation
operations," Paolucci said. "Worldwide aviation operations account
for only 3 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, and general
aviation accounts for a fraction of that, but we intend to continue
to lower it even more through programs like GreenTrak."
In technical terms, GreenTrak is a method of determining the
optimum climb, cruise and descent speed schedules for a given ratio
of cost of time (linked to direct operating costs) and to the cost
of fuel using the aircraft's gross weight, altitude, wind speed,
direction and temperature - even the company's cost structure. The
resulting flight plan will result in the lowest total trip cost in
terms of fuel consumed and carbon emitted.
The program can be run on the crew's electronic flight bag for
in-flight adjustments as circumstances demand.
"Cessna and other OEMs will continue to work with engine
suppliers to develop more efficient engines, and we will continue
to develop even more aerodynamic airframes, but GreenTrak is an
immediate solution for lowering operating costs and emissions,"
Paolucci said. "We know our customers are counting on their
aircraft to help them grow their business - to help the global
economy rebound - and GreenTrak will support them across the
operational spectrum."