PPAS®



© 2007 Applied Aeronautical Systems Inc. All Rights Reserved

PPAS®, short for Pilots Performance Advisory System, is a vertical flight path optimization tool. PPAS is a booklet analog to the optimization part of an onboard Flight Management Computer System (FMS). It delivers optimized climb, cruise, and descent performance data to the pilot. The data is computed based on Cost Index in the same way as an FMS type system. The data and presentation are tailored for each aircraft type and operator. The information is easy to use and understand. This allows pilots to manage their flights effectively.

FEATURES

PPAS performance data is corrected for "real world" actual aircraft performance

PPAS delivers optimal Mach / Flight Level cruise profiles

PPAS performance data is buffet protected and all generated profiles are safe to fly

PPAS always provides the pilot with minimum safe operating speeds for all conditions.

PPAS provides airlines with a system to improve operational efficiency, take full advantage of RVSM airspace, enhance flight safety and standardize SOPs in the cockpit. This is accomplished with the safety enhancing PPAS visible in front of the pilot at all times.

BENEFITS

PPAS delivers significant COST savings to airlines by optimizing fuel burn for the operating Cost Index and achieving the required flight time for the flight. Hence time sensitive flights can be operated to meet arrival time requirements and non-time sensitive flights can operate less aggressively and more fuel conservatively. Regardless, the minimum possible fuel burn for the flight time is achieved by a system that responds to wind, weight, flight level, temperature, and Cost Index. Generally, 2% to 5% fuel burn savings are achieved relative to standard fixed Mach or LRC cruise profiles.

SAVE FUEL / TIME-IMPROVE THE OPERATIONAL BOTTOM LINE

Cost Index Optimization… in a Performance Booklet Flight Path Optimization Results in Fuel and Time Savings Relative to Standard Fixed Mach / Long Range Cruise Profiles


PPAS® EFB

PPAS® EFB is an electronic version of the PPAS booklet system. PPAS EFB is available as a Class I or Class II Electronic flight bag systems.

FEATURES

PPAS EFB provides the full functionality of the Cost Index optimization of a Flight Management Computer System (FMS). It enables the user to dynamically update the system as flight conditions change. Version 1.0 has four data pages:

CRUISE Page provides the optimal solution (Mach and Flight Level), with supporting information, for a given set of flight conditions, aircraft state and Cost Index. The system supports RVSM or non-RVSM airspace.

Flight Level Compare Page enables the flight crew to perform a wind/altitude trade on a cost basis, not just fuel burn.

HOLD Page provides optimal holding Mach / IAS and Flight Level data, in addition to buffet margin data.

DESCENT Page provides distance to 10,000 ft and the corresponding flight path angle (FPA) for entry into an FMS, for a chosen descent IAS. Engine-Out descent speed is also provided.

BENEFITS

PPAS EFB delivers full FMS optimization flexibility which enables the airline to choose the optimal operational profile for maximum cost savings. PPAS EFB enables, by selection of an appropriate Cost Index, the most cost effective solution on a flight-by-flight basis, saving both money and time. At the same time, PPAS EFB provides the flight crew with a safe operating envelope with buffet protection and emergency flight profile guidance.

In short, PPAS EFB enables an airline to achieve the maximum operational efficiency from each aircraft in the fleet.


VCIPLAN®

VCIPLAN is a flight planning engine that computes optimal flight plans according to the following equations:


VCIPLAN® is an acronym for Variable Cost Index FlightPLAN. These routines are designed to be embedded within a flight planning system. When used on a specified route, the speed and altitude are chosen to provide an optimal plan. In this mode, VCIPLAN becomes 2D-VCIPLAN. When VCIPLAN is used with the host route finding algorithm, it becomes 4D-VCIPLAN which simultaneously optimizes the speed, altitude (2D) and route (+2D). 4D-VCIPLAN has been computing Delta Air Lines' international flight plans for over 5 years, and is about to be rolled out for domestic flight plans as well.

The variable cost index appears in two ways: First, the cost index number entered into the FMS decreases gradually during the flight to account for fuel "tankering" to the point of fuel burn. Second, the cost index can be varied to achieve a specified time of flight.

The key characteristics of an optimal flight plan are:

An optimal flight plan minimizes burn for a specified flight time

AND

An optimal flight plan minimizes flight time for a specified burn

The benefits that come from using an optimal flight plan are Optimality and Flexibility.

Flexibility means that the flight times can be chosen to meet operational constraints. It is not unusual to see a 5% to 15% change in flight times between the minimum and maximum flight time of an optimal flight plan. 4D-VCIPLAN generates a range of flight times (Window of Opportunity) for each flight being analyzed. The required flight time is selected based on operational considerations and costs to the corporation; VCIPLAN then generates an optimal flight profile for the chosen flight time.

Optimality means that 4D-VCIPLAN flight plans have the lowest burn of any other flight plan on all flights for any flight time. This means that for the flight time selected, there is no other flight profile (Mach/flight level and lateral track/ATC routing) that can achieve the same flight time at a lower total cost of fuel burn and navigation charges. Hence it would be logical to generate all flight plans using 4D-VCIPLAN algorithms, whether or not flexibility of flight time is needed.
© Copyright 2007 AASI inc. All rights reserved.