ABOUT

Reduction of the Environmental Impact of
aviation Via Optimization of aircraft size/
range and flight Network

Framework info

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    Project Background

    What is it?

    Imagine this: Instead of flying direct from Frankfurt to Dominican Republic, you fly to Azores first before continuing your journey. This concept is also known as “staging” or “intermediate stop operations”.

    Why would you do this?

    To increase fuel efficiency, i.e. avoid burning fuel to carry fuel.

    Split flight with same aircraft

    SPLIT FLIGHT WITH OPTIMISED AIRCRAFT

    Fewer flights with larger aircraft

    Avoid «burning fuel to carry fuel»

    SPLIT FLIGHT WITH OPTIMISED AIRCRAFT

    Additional fuel for
    second take-off

    Fewer flights with larger aircraft

    Total fuel burn depends on aircraft characteristics

    Less fuel with size- and range-optimised aircraft

    REIVON Main Approach 1:

    REIVON Main Approach 1B:

    Split long-haul flights into shorter legs (intermediate stop operations = ISO)

    REIVON Main Approach 2:

    Fly larger & range optimised aircraft with reduced frequencies

    REIVON Scientific Context

    REIVON Main Approach 1B:

    The concept has been investigated from many perspectives, including its implications on operating costs and the environment. Below are two relevant published papers:

    What will REIVON do?

    Extend previous studies through a comprehensive global and exhaustive
    study and a combination of the above mentioned levels of service.

    Project info

    The Clean Sky project REIVON investigates to what extent the CO2 emissions of global aviation can be reduced via an optimisation of aircraft size/range and flight network. Two main approaches are investigated:

    REIVON steps:

    REIVON uses an integrated approach involving experts from multiple disciplines, including aircraft design and performance, airline fleet and network optimisation, aircraft emissions modelling, air traffic demand modelling as well as impact assessment on local and global level.

    Concept and approach

    Input Data

    1. Compute fuel use and CO2 emissions for base cases

    2. Compute fuel use and CO2 emissions for three alternatives

    3. Assessment of potential impacts on stakeholders for three alternatives

    4. Analysis of potential measures

    WORK PACKAGES

    Timeline

    T0
    Project Kick Off
    T0 + 4
    Report on methodology, data, models/tools plus metrics
    To + 10
    Definition of three alternatives for optimised air transport system
    T0 + 15
    Mid-term meeting
    T0 + 15
    Report on theoretical potentials for reducing CO2 via optimised aircraft, network and frequency reductions
    T0 + 26
    Report on potential impacts on stakeholder
    T0 + 30
    Final report and dissemination / communication of results

    This project has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research program under Grant agreement ID: 101007659