Key benefits of aerial refuelling to commercial aviation.
By reducing fuel consumption and flight times, by allowing full commercial payloads and reducing the number of refueling stops needed, aerial refuelling delivers step change increases in efficiency.
It's a well-practised and safe daily routine for most military aircrews, so why not take advantage of the immense increases in efficiency it offers?
Fuel
Significant fuel savings
On long haul routes where an aircraft cannot carry enough fuel to make the entire journey in one leg, the aircraft must make a "technical stop" en route, to take on more fuel.
Ironically, the fuel is required to descend into an airport, make an approach, and then climb back to cruising height once refuelled is a significant cost in this process, amounting to some 20% of the total fuel used during the flight.
At cruising height, relatively little fuel is used per nautical mile. A single air refueling transfer at cruising height saves the fuel used in making a technical stop and the range of the aircraft is extended by several thousand miles.
Payload
Full payloads now available
The total capacity of an aircraft at take-off is a compromise between the weight of the payload and the weight of the fuel required.
Often, capacity is further limited by weight and power considerations in order to make a safe take-off on shorter runways or in hot weather.
Aerial refuelling allows an aircraft to take off safely with a full payload. Once at cruising height, the aircraft can be refuelled to give it the required range, now carrying a full payload.
Airframe Life/Servicing
Significantly reduce through-life costs
Airframe life is measured in a number of ways, including number of pressurisations, number of landings and time spent in turbulence at lower altitudes.
By removing the need for refuelling stops, the number of pressurisations and landings is halved, and the time in turbulent air is significantly reduced.
Environment
Less fuel, fewer airframes, less noise
When you consider all the savings that aerial refuelling offers in terms of reduced fuel usage, less need for servicing, fewer replacement airframes and fewer refuelling stops, it all adds up to a pretty significant improvement in environmental factors too.
Fewer refuelling stops also means less noise for local residents.
It's a win-win situation.
Time
Significant reductions in total route time
Stopping to refuel on a long route not only uses significant fuel, it takes a considerable time too.
A typical turn round can last 3-4 hours, especially where passengers are involved.
There are significant savings to be made in reducing crew changes, fewer pre-positioned crews, reduced delays and cancellations due to crew duty time, not to mention the benefits to be gained from delivering your payload more quickly.
A long-haul flight currently lasting 23 hours (including a 4-hour "technical stop") could be reduced to just 19 hours, a saving of 18% of the route time.
"Technical Stops"
Reduce more costs
Technical stops to upload more fuel do not just cost fuel and time. There are a host of associated cost savings to be made.
Landing fees, ground handling, and passenger handling could all be negated. Plus, aircraft have a habit of developing faults on turn-rounds.
Additional Benefits
Slots and congestion
Fewer refuelling stops en route frees up slots to be used for other purposes, and free up slots currently used for through traffic that could be used for passengers and freight that are intended to terminate at that airport.
Short-haul freight aircraft could utilise these slots with a further significant benefit.
The actual amounts of fuel required to extend the range of a long-haul aircraft that remains at cruising height is relatively little, and could easily be dispensed from a short-haul dual-role transport aircraft before it continued to carry out its delivery task.
Prestige
Non-stop to Australia?
There is no doubt that there would be significant prestige and PR to be gained from flying the first genuinely commercial non-stop route
The first company to achieve this will have a significant advantage over competitors for several months, and if that company also owned the tanker aircraft, could then sell airborne fuel to their competitors!
If this prospect interests you, email us to find out how we could help your company more efficient»
Range International is a professional consultancy group of leading aviation experts. We propose to introduce proven aerial refuelling techniques into commercial aviation.
Find out more about Range International »
Key Benefits
- Lower costs and environmental impact.
- Shorter flight times.
- Full payloads over long distances.
- Increased airframe life.
- Decreased ground handling.
Why Now?
- Pace of technological improvements in efficiency is slowing.
- Fuel costs greatly increased.
- Uncertain geopolitical changes.
- Greater environmental conscience.
Read White Papers: more detail on commercial aerial refuelling »
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Range International Ltd
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