AE 3382 Project Planning Report 0748632

SUMMARY

The report is about the initial planning to achieve the aim of the subjected project

that is regarding to best fuel saving methods for commercial airliners. Moreover, this contains

set of objectives to achieve the aims and to make good intended deliverables. The project

planning Gantt chart or time line is also included in order to complete the project on time and

to easy reference of the project progress. The analysis of tasks including progress to date and

the present status of the project are also discussed.

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CONTENTS

Summary

1. Introduction

2. Aims

3. Objectives

4. Deliverables

5. Analysis of Tasks

6. Project Timeline

7. Progress to Date

8. Conclusion

References

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1. INTRODUCTION

The brothers of aviation Wilbur and Orville Wright designed and flown the world
first heavier than air, aircraft for about 120 feet and 10 feet off the ground on 17 th December
1903. They utilised a wing powered propeller to generate required thrust but nowadays huge
double decked aircrafts like Airbus A 380 are being powered by gas turbine engines with use
of fossil fuel for about 80 years as well as small aircrafts by piston engines.

Now the problem confused the aviation field because the usage of hydrocarbon
fuel. The negative aspects of the fossil fuels are;

 One of leaching natural resources in the world, hence price hike.

 Cannot be recycled or regenerated after using.
 By-products after the combustion are not eco-friendly i.e. CO2, CO and NO2.

Therefore, specialists and scientists in aviation and automotive sectors have been
experimenting to find alternative fuel to face this trouble and to save jet fuel. The main
intentions of them were to save the fossil fuel, find a new chemical composition to replace
gasoline or jet fuel and minimise the environmental impact by hydrocarbon fuel.

Apart from this, the designers tested some new modifications to existing models to
minimise drag and empty weight of the aircraft. Moreover, airline operators have implemented
several practices and advancements to aircraft operational methodologies and maintenance
organisations developed maintenance specifications, procedures and maintenance programs in
order to maintain continuous optimum performance of aircraft as much as possible.

The project will basically cover the above key areas to identify the most beneficial
and effective methods for fuel saving of aircraft which can be done by the designers, airlines
and maintenance organisations after analysing the findings. Furthermore, it will present an
analytical approach to probable alternative fuel type like algal fuel.

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2. AIMS OF THE PROJECT

 To find about the productive and efficient alternative fuels with highest probability.

The optional fuel types to use in the future with greater potential and probability to
power modern commercial airliners need to be found. The benefits and detriments of
those types should be identified in order to determine the most suitable type for future
aviation.

 To present new design modifications and concepts to lessen the aircraft drag hence
minimising the fuel consumption and jet engine design developments.

Aerodynamic performance improvements on aircraft design needs to be identified

and the new design concepts with lesser drag need to be identified. Moreover, the engine
performance and efficiency aspects are also investigated for better fuel saving methods.

 To minimise the fuel consumption by frequent and advance maintenance

procedures.

Maintenance tasks which are dealing with fuel consumption needs to be identified.
The frequency of task by the relevant authorities needs to be recognized. Look for
possible new methods and ways related to the aims.

 To determine the flight operational techniques with the potential of fuel saving.

The possible methods and tasks which help to save fuel needs to be identified
during the aircraft ground operation, taxiing, takeoff, cruising and landing.

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3. OBJECTIVES

3.1 Research about the alternative fuels.

 Read about Solar Power

 Hybrids (Fuel + Electricity)

 Examine on Bio Fuels. i.e. fuel from jatropha oil, camelina oil or algae

3.2 Look into case studies of fuel saving methods.

 Look for initiatives of airlines to reduce the fuel consumption of their fleet.

3.3 Research about aircraft maintenance tasks to minimise the aircraft drag.

 Find about the possible improvements on aircraft maintenance procedures to

minimise the drag of aircraft.

 Examine on the new maintenance tasks which can be introduced to minimise

the excrescence drag.

 Flight control rigging

 Instrument calibration

 Maintain surface finish

 Aerodynamic seals

3.4 Investigation on fuel efficiency of recent commercial airliners.

 Research on developments of the aircraft fuel consumption reduction.

 Identify the reasons for the less fuel consumption on outstanding designs.

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 Identify new engine design features that help to minimize fuel consumption.

3.5 Research on new design modifications and concepts.

 After analysing 3.4 (2), find about the modifications for near future and
concept aircrafts.

 Classify the fuel saving capabilities of each design and modification.

3.6 Study about flight operation methods and techniques to save fuel.

 Find about Taxiing and Take off performance in effectively.

 In-flight fuel saving methods must be identified.

 Research on landing procedures and effective approaching.

 Methods to increase engine efficiency.

3.7 Research on alternate methods and new trends for fuel saving in aviation.

3.8 Analysing the fuel saving measurements and identifying the effective methods which
provides maximum benefits.

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4. DELIVERABLES

The four main deliverables of the project can be provided as follows:

 The finest and most beneficial methods of fuel saving for a commercial aircraft out of
maintenance, operation and design modifications.

 A study of probability and benefits of using algal fuel as jet fuel in the future.

 Presentation for seminar on the above mentioned aspects.

 A final report on analysis of fuel saving methods and alternative new fuels replacing
Jet fuel A.

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5. ANALYSIS OF TASKS

For a successful completion of the report, the planned tasks need to be carried out
in the specified time allocated by the Gantt chart followed by this section. To this end, the
project will run through several stages ensuring the integrity to the main goal.

Stage 1

This stage consists of two main tasks; research on alternative fuel types and case studies on
fuel saving methods done by airlines so far.

Looking into optional fuel types like solar power, hybrids and bio fuels will be among major
concerns. For this, reference books, aviation magazines, newsletters, documentaries, news
bulletins and internet browsing are the resources that are going to be utilised. Ultimately, the
comprehensive analysis will need to be done, in order to find out the best possible fuel to
power future aviation.

Moreover, as a support to the next stages the case studies on fuel saving on flights done by
several airlines needs to be studied.

While carrying out this, the preliminary report needs to be compiled with the advice of
supervisor.

Stage 1 needs to be completed before the Christmas week with the careful analysis on the two
major tasks on efficiency and commercial beneficial aspects and then making conclusion in
order to determine the best fuel type.

Stage 2

In this stage, research on aircraft maintenance tasks and fuel efficiency of recent commercial
aircraft will be carried out.

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Initially, the maintenance tasks that lead to lessen the fuel consumption have to be identified
and after a careful analysis, the improvements for the maintenance procedures, planning and
new tasks need to be presented. For this special resources like maintenance manuals,
maintenance plans and publications will need to be referred.

Hereafter, the new design concepts and modifications for aircraft and jet engines have to be
researched. These are with particular interest of less fuel consumption and elevated
efficiencies.

Finally, some of the recent designs have to be analysed to forecast the probability of future
designs.

Stage 3

This stage is allocated especially with the intention of compiling a project report with latest
information hence a week for a quick research over latest and alternative fuel saving methods.
If not this week will act as a float to the project, that can be used to carry out any other task
which may be more time consuming than expected.

Stage 4

This stage comprises with analysis of the fuel saving measurements which would be obtained
at that time and the determination of effective methods.

All the findings must be analysed and evaluated completely considering the factors like;
availability, efficiency, cost of production and ease of implementation.

This will lead to determine the best ways to save fuel of aircraft.

Stage 5

This stage is final stage of the project which leads to the achievement of anticipated
deliverables. The poster and seminar including compiling of project report will also need to be

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completed at this stage with the identification of most beneficial fuel saving methods for
commercial aircraft.

6. PROJECT TIMELINE – GANTT CHART

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7. PROGRESS TO DATE

The initiation of the research is about the alternative fuel types available and
experimented recently. The first resource that was searched about is Solar Power.

The solar power aircraft are successfully tested within past few years. However,
there are still several disadvantages which prevent the implementation solar power on
commercial aircraft such as,

 The requirement of large wing span to mount solar panels.

 The available power supply is not enough to take off recent aircraft take
off weights which will minimise the payload.

 Inoperative in cloudy, dark weather and in the nights.

Therefore, solar power application for the commercial aircraft is a big if.

The hybrid aircraft means an aircraft powered by both fuel and electrical power.
NASA has initiated designing of a hybrid aircraft called Sugar-volt, which carries 154
passengers, is powered by jet fuel and battery power. (Flight International, 24-30 August
2010) In this case, the two engines are coupled to an electric motor that coupled to the internal
shaft and during takeoff it provides more power. However, for this end, the required power
rating of the battery would be 750watt hours/kg. The best recent battery is only 170-180 watt
hours/kg.

Bio Fuel

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