Assessment Method of Fuel Consumption and Emissions of Aircraft during Taxiing on Airport Surface under Given Meteorological Conditions

Abstract

Reducing fuel consumption and emissions of aircrafts during taxiing on airport surfaces is crucial to decrease the operating costs of airline companies and construct green airports. At present, relevant studies have barely investigated the influences of the operation environment, such as low visibility and traffic conflict in airports, reducing the assessment accuracy of fuel consumption and emissions. Multiple aircraft ground propulsion systems on airport surfaces, especially the electric green taxiing system, have attracted wide attention in the industry. Assessing differences in fuel consumption and emissions under different taxiing modes is difficult because environmental factors were hardly considered in previous assessments. Therefore, an innovative study was conducted based on practical running data of quick access recorders and climate data: (1) Low visibility and taxiing conflict on airport surfaces were inputted into the calculation model of fuel consumption to set up a modified model of fuel consumption and emissions. (2) Fuel consumption and emissions models under full- and single-engine taxiing, external aircraft ground propulsion systems, and electric green taxiing system could accurately estimate fuel consumption and emissions under different taxiing modes based on the modified model. (3) Differences in fuel consumption and emissions of various aircraft types under four taxiing modes under stop-and-go and unimpeded aircraft taxiing conditions were obtained through a sensitivity analysis in Shanghai Pudong International Airport under three thrust levels. Research conclusions provide support to the airport management department in terms of decision making on taxiway optimization.