Seattle, Washington – APiJET, a Seattle-based company specializing in aviation data analytics, has been awarded a $4.5 million grant by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to further develop its innovative Digital Winglets tool. This software, designed to optimize fuel efficiency during flights, analyzes real-time data including wind, weather, and aircraft performance to suggest adjustments in altitude, speed, or route.
Digital Winglets, which incorporates NASA-developed flight optimization algorithms known as Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR), has already demonstrated its ability to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 1.5% for passenger flights and up to 2.5% for cargo flights. Given that global commercial airlines burn nearly 100 billion gallons of jet fuel annually, even these modest reductions can have significant financial and environmental benefits.
APiJET’s technology operates through cloud-based servers, delivering flight plan suggestions to dispatchers and pilots, who then seek approval from FAA air traffic controllers to implement changes. The FAA’s grant, part of the Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition program, will support the creation of Aircraft Performance Models for more aircraft types, broadening the tool’s applicability.
“Airlines need to save money. Inflation is high. There’s pressure to reduce pollution, there’s pressure to reduce carbon,” said APiJET CEO Rob Green.
Technical Details:
Digital Winglets leverages an Aircraft Performance Model (APM) unique to each aircraft, which includes detailed data on the specific characteristics of the plane, its engines, and component wear over time. The tool processes this data alongside real-time flight information to recommend optimal flight adjustments, such as changes in altitude or route, that can improve fuel efficiency. The recommendations are then reviewed by the airline’s dispatcher and the pilot before being submitted to the FAA for approval.
The system’s cloud-based architecture allows for easy integration with existing airline operations and minimal user training, making it a versatile tool for airlines aiming to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions.
Analysis:
APiJET’s success in securing the FAA grant underscores the importance of technological innovation in achieving sustainability in aviation. As the industry grapples with the challenge of reducing its carbon footprint, tools like Digital Winglets offer a practical solution that can deliver immediate results. While advancements in sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft are still in development, optimizing current flight operations through software like Digital Winglets represents a crucial step in improving efficiency.
Source: APiJet