System and method for determining aircraft payloads to enhance profitability

Abstract

A method for managing aircraft operations includes determining, via a trajectory predictor, an expected fuel usage for a flight along a desired route, and determining, via at least one processor, an available cargo capacity for the flight along the desired route based at least in part on the expected fuel usage. In addition, the method includes determining, via the at least one processor and the trajectory predictor, a passenger ticket price, a cargo price, and a fuel quantity based at least in part on an available seating capacity, an expected passenger demand, the available cargo capacity, and an expected cargo demand to enhance profitability of a flight network. The method also includes outputting the passenger ticket price, the cargo price, and the fuel quantity to a user interface, to a storage device, and / or to a network.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining aircraft payloads to enhance profitability.[0002]Commercial aircraft typically include a storage compartment (e.g., storage hold) configured to facilitate transportation of passenger baggage. The volume of certain storage compartments is larger than the expected volume of passenger baggage for a flight along a desired route. Accordingly, the excess volume of such storage compartments may be utilized to transport cargo along the desired route. Selling the excess volume to companies and / or individuals for cargo transportation enhances the profitability of the flight by increasing the utilization of available resources (e.g., the excess storage volume and / or the excess lifting capacity of the aircraft). However, transporting cargo increases the weight of the aircraft, thereby increasing fuel usage during the flight. In addition, the weight of the cargo and / or the volume of the cargo withi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a computer system and method for managing aircraft operations. This system and method use data about the flight plan, weather conditions, and fuel usage to determine the costs of tickets and cargo for a flight, and to optimize profitability for the flight network. The system predicts the expected fuel usage for a flight and determines the available seating and cargo capacity based on this information. It then calculates the passenger and cargo ticket prices and the amount of fuel required for the flight. This information is then outputted to a user interface or stored for later reference. Overall, the system and method improve the efficiency and profitability of aircraft operations.

Problems solved by technology

However, transporting cargo increases the weight of the aircraft, thereby increasing fuel usage during the flight.

In addition, the weight of the cargo and / or the volume of the cargo within the storage compartment may reduce the available passenger capacity of the aircraft (e.g., by decreasing the storage volume for passenger baggage and / or by reducing the available lifting capacity of the aircraft).

Accordingly, pricing cargo too cheaply may reduce the profitability of a flight due to excessive fuel usage and / or reduced passenger capacity.

Conversely, pricing cargo too expensively may reduce the profitability of the flight due to inefficient use of available resources.

For example, a high cargo price may reduce demand for the excess volume within the storage compartment, thereby decreasing the cargo carried by the flight.

As a result, the overall profitability of the flight may be reduced.

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