Formation flying as an innovative air transportation system for long-haul commercial flight: A focus on operational feasibility and potential gain

Formation flying as an innovative air transportation system for long-haul commercial flight: A focus on operational feasibility and potential gain

Herinckx, L.E.
Gutleb, T.L.M.
Van Nunen, R.
Van Rompuy, E.
Bos, D.A.
Dijkers, H.P.A.
De Wit, J.
Radfar, H.
Sahin, S.E.
Beelarts van Blokland, W.W.A.

Aerospace Engineering

2011-09-20

Formation flying is introduced as a new and innovative air transportation system for long-haul commercial flight. With this paper the operational feasibility of formation flying is addressed, both from a market demand and economic, as well as an air traffic control perspective. Preliminary results of a case study indicate that operating a newly designed aircraft that is optimized for formation flying could cut the fuel consumption over long-haul flights in half compared to current state-of-the-art aircraft. Therefore, this air transportation system proves to be a possible solution to the impending regulations and fines regarding the reduction of CO2 emissions in aviation.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:be8bb0f3-75c9-4d2b-9696-e8275c62bacf

https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2011-6990

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

978-1-60086-941-9

11th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference, including the AIA, Virginia Beach, USA, 20-22 September 2011; AIAA 2011-6990

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2011 The Author(s)