Boeing monitors wind conditions aloft to maximise fuel efficiency

Fuel is one of the main costs to an airline - the "big 3" costs of runnign an airliner are the capital cost, maintenance and fuel. So airlines go to great lengths to minimise all 3.

Boeing have released Inflight Optimisation Services - a system which monitors winds aloft, and allows pilots to alter routes "on the fly" to maximise fuel efficiency by taking advantage of winds.

This will probably result in more cases being reported of jets changing direction, contrails starting or stopping, etc., as the aircraft change altitude and/or direction seemingly at random, but actually in order to save gas.

According to the source article -

Alaska Airlines (ALK), which flies an all-Boeing (BA) fleet is testing the wind update component and its pilots have responded positively.

reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul
Can you fly?

reply to post by diamondsmith


Only if I pay someone for it!

Last time I was at the controls of an aircraft was about 23 years ago.

reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul


Sorry but I don't see how this has anything to do with Geoengineering.

Shouldn't this be in the Science and Technology forum?

Originally posted by Mikehawk
reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul

 

Sorry but I don't see how this has anything to do with Geoengineering.

Shouldn't this be in the Science and Technology forum?

Straight up

reply to post by Mikehawk


Chemtrail believers often note what they think are odd flight paths of aircraft as proof that a/c are not flying "normal" routes.

This technology will make that even more common.

This should be in the Off Topic Forum.

This is a stretch, even for you the Gaul

reply to post by Corruption Exposed


Sorry you don't see the link - feel free to alert the moderators for their assessment if you want, but I have stated my reasons, and they are perfectly clear to me.

Not sure about the relevance to this specific forum, but a good post is a good post in my book.

The iFOS System has been around for quite sometime, and it is one of a few reasons you can from time to time expect delays of flights on perfectly clear days and nights at an airport.

Deviation and in flight adjustments to flight path are nothing new and have been practiced for many many years, but actual consistent monitoring of wind speeds at elevated altitudes over 9000 feet is relatively new in realtime. AWOS has always given an idea of winds aloft, but that can be a variable number.

Here's some further reading from Boeing in regards to iFOS.
boeing.com...