ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the weight build-up of an aircraft, the principal issues concerning aircraft performance comparisons, and how to compose a performance evaluation for a set of routes in the context of fleet planning. It entails examination of both airfield performance and en-route performance. Airlines usually request the manufacturer to add an Manufacturer's Weight Empty (MWE) tolerance percentage, in addition to the in-service weight growth value, to reflect variations in actual delivered aircraft from the specification. Some airline study rules insist that the manufacturer reduces the length of the runway in order to allow the aircraft to turn and position itself at the end of the runway. An aircraft track under Extended Twin OPerationS (ETOPS) must stay within the maximum authorised diversion time permitted by the national authority for both the aircraft type and operator. An Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) for ETOPS includes certain additional items according to the maximum approved diversion time.