Crafting Efficiency: NASA and Alaska Airlines Innovate Time and Fuel-Saving Software

NASA scientists are evaluating cockpit-based software that integrates the capabilities of real-time flight data with the user-friendly nature of a tablet to empower pilots to save time and fuel effectively.

The Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests, or TASAR, initiative is a collaborative research effort involving NASA and Alaska Airlines assessing NASA’s Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) software. This software assimilates and analyzes an unmatched array of real-time flight data to offer pilots tailored flight route alternatives.

Route optimization via TASAR presents numerous advantages, such as conserving fuel, reducing flight duration, and assisting pilots in making more precise route requests to air traffic officials.

David Wing, the TASAR research leader at NASA’s Langley Research Center, has observed TAP propose suggestions that could lead to savings of up to 1,800 pounds of fuel and 12 minutes of flight duration, though he concedes that this may be somewhat optimistic for an average flight.

“Through simulations, we estimated that a typical airline flight might save around 400 to 500 pounds of fuel and roughly four minutes of flying time,” Wing stated.

Initial outcomes are encouraging. On five out of its initial six flights with Alaska Airlines during the first week of an anticipated eight-month operational trial, the TAP software provided rerouting suggestions – altering the aircraft’s route and/or altitude – which either shortened flight time or saved fuel, frequently achieving both.

Wing and fellow researcher Dr. Kelly Burke flew on several flights with Alaska Airlines personnel to ensure the software operated effectively. While Wing’s role focuses on making the software function in-flight, Burke’s responsibility is to ensure usability for pilots. She is the human factors expert responsible for designing the interface of TAP.

“The most thrilling aspect for me is observing crews utilize the software,” Burke explains. “We wanted to determine if pilots could navigate between their various applications seamlessly, and I sat directly behind the captain witnessing him do just that.”

As an early adopter of TASAR technology, Alaska Airlines recognizes considerable potential in TAP.

“Route optimization isn’t a novel idea,” remarked Bret Peyton, director of fleet technology support for Alaska Airlines. “However, possessing a genuinely comprehensive set of real-time data for decision-making post-departure is where TAP’s transformative capabilities emerge. We are nearing the 50-flight milestone in our trials and still have a distance to cover before drawing conclusive remarks, but the potential is exceedingly evident.”

TAP takes into account real-time weather, winds, air traffic, restricted airspace, and the state of the airplane in its flight path calculations. As conditions fluctuate during the flight, TAP continuously processes data and refreshes its recommendations. By evaluating all these factors against one another, it presents pilots with the optimal reroutes based on the most current information every 60 seconds.

“TAP is user-friendly and demands minimal training,” clarifies Jared Woodward, Alaska’s TASAR program manager and technical pilot. “Recently, an air traffic controller suggested a ‘shortcut’ that appeared advantageous to me, yet would have led to an increase in time if not for TAP.”

Woodward has also utilized TAP as a referee within the cockpit.

“The flight plan stated ‘In 150 miles, ascend to 35,000 feet,’ and the FMC [Flight Management Computer] prompted, ‘Ascend to 35,000 feet now.’” Woodward utilized TAP to verify the two, “TAP indicated to ascend immediately resulting in a 660-pound fuel reduction.”

Reducing fuel consumption is a significant role of TAP. Using less fuel lowers emissions, minimizes operational expenses, and lessens environmental effects.

As an airliner ascends, it consumes fuel and becomes lighter. Consequently, this often makes higher altitudes more appealing concerning cruise efficiency. Pilots frequently request increased altitudes and shortcut routes to conserve fuel.

Occasionally, an unseen challenge to efficiency – headwinds – can arise. Headwinds shift incessantly and may diminish rerouting advantages. Whereas the wind data accessible to crews can often be several hours outdated, TAP monitors real-time, three-dimensional wind data and incorporates it into countless rerouting option assessments. This is how TAP aids pilots in identifying and navigating the most fuel-efficient routes, even when they aren’t the most direct paths.

“Even modest savings – like 50 pounds of fuel here and 30 seconds of flight time there – accumulate,” Wing expressed. “Consider what it entails if this occurs consistently throughout every flight.”

Alaska Airlines is still operating the TAP software on three aircraft running multiple flights weekly. During the scheduled eight-month operational trial on revenue flights, NASA will continue to collect data regarding TASAR’s efficiency, while Alaska Airlines works to transport their passengers to their destinations a bit more swiftly and cost-effectively.

Read More:
> Taking new paths in the sky: NASA and Alaska Airlines are making it happen (blog.alaskaair.com)
> NASA Langley Team Wins 2016 NASA Software of the Year Award
> NASA Developed Technology Aims to Save Commercial Airlines Fuel, Time
> Cockpit Software Could Assist Pilots in Charting the Optimal Path