Fuel flow-rate modelling of transport aircraft for the climb flight using genetic algorithms

Abstract

In this study, development of a new fuel flow rate model for the climbing phase of flight was achieved using a genetic algorithm (GA) method. Two modelling approaches were performed using real flight data records (FDRs) from a medium-weight transport-category aircraft. The first model considered the dependency of fuel consumption only with respect to altitude, whereas the effects of both altitude and true airspeed (TAS) were included in the second model. The proposed models are improvements on existing models because the relationship between fuel flow rate, flight altitude, and TAS can be deduced using the derived formulations. Both modelling approaches were found to provide accurate results after performing an error analysis for fuel flow rate values. It was clear that incorporating the TAS effect into the second model enhanced the accuracy of the model, but the first model was also found to be appropriate for practical usage.