SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AIRCRAFT PAYLOADS TO ENHANCE PROFITABILITY
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for managing aircraft operations, comprising:
- receiving an available seating capacity for a flight along a desired route, wherein the flight along the desired route is one of a plurality of flights within a flight network;
receiving an expected passenger demand for the flight along the desired route;
receiving an expected cargo demand for the flight along the desired route;
determining, via a trajectory predictor, an expected fuel usage for the flight along the desired route;
determining, via at least one processor, an available cargo capacity for the flight along the desired route based at least in part on the expected fuel usage;
determining, via the at least one processor and the trajectory predictor, a passenger ticket price, a cargo price, and a fuel quantity based at least in part on the available seating capacity, the expected passenger demand, the available cargo capacity, and the expected cargo demand to enhance profitability of the flight network; and
outputting the passenger ticket price, the cargo price, and the fuel quantity to a user interface, to a storage device, to a network, or a combination thereof.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing aircraft operations includes determining, via a trajectory predictor, an expected fuel usage for a flight along a desired route, and determining, via at least one processor, an available cargo capacity for the flight along the desired route based at least in part on the expected fuel usage. In addition, the method includes determining, via the at least one processor and the trajectory predictor, a passenger ticket price, a cargo price, and a fuel quantity based at least in part on an available seating capacity, an expected passenger demand, the available cargo capacity, and an expected cargo demand to enhance profitability of a flight network. The method also includes outputting the passenger ticket price, the cargo price, and the fuel quantity to a user interface, to a storage device, and/or to a network.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for managing aircraft operations, comprising:
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receiving an available seating capacity for a flight along a desired route, wherein the flight along the desired route is one of a plurality of flights within a flight network; receiving an expected passenger demand for the flight along the desired route; receiving an expected cargo demand for the flight along the desired route; determining, via a trajectory predictor, an expected fuel usage for the flight along the desired route; determining, via at least one processor, an available cargo capacity for the flight along the desired route based at least in part on the expected fuel usage; determining, via the at least one processor and the trajectory predictor, a passenger ticket price, a cargo price, and a fuel quantity based at least in part on the available seating capacity, the expected passenger demand, the available cargo capacity, and the expected cargo demand to enhance profitability of the flight network; and outputting the passenger ticket price, the cargo price, and the fuel quantity to a user interface, to a storage device, to a network, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer implemented method for managing aircraft operations, comprising:
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receiving an updated flight plan for a flight along a desired route, measured weather conditions for the flight along the desired route, or a combination thereof wherein the updated flight plan is updated during a preflight phase from a flight plan determined during a planning phase, the measured weather conditions are updated during the preflight phase from expected weather conditions determined during the planning phase, and the flight along the desired route is one of a plurality of flights within a flight network; determining, via a trajectory predictor, an expected fuel usage for the flight along the desired route based at least in part on the updated flight plan, the measured weather conditions, or the combination thereof; determining, via at least one processor, an expected weight of an aircraft associated with the flight along the desired route based at least in part on the expected fuel usage; determining, via the at least one processor, whether to reroute passengers, whether to reroute cargo, or a combination thereof, during the preflight phase based at least in part on the expected fuel usage and the expected weight to enhance profitability of the flight network; determining, via the at least one processor, which passengers to reroute, which cargo to reroute, or a combination thereof, based at least in part on expected losses associated with rerouting the passengers, with rerouting the cargo, or a combination thereof; and outputting data associated with rerouting the passengers, data associated with rerouting the cargo, or a combination thereof, to a user interface, to a storage device, to a network, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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12. (canceled)
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15. The method of claim wherein the trajectory predictor substantially corresponds to an onboard flight management system of the aircraft associated with the flight along the desired route.
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16. A system for managing aircraft operations, comprising:
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a trajectory predictor configured to determine an expected fuel usage for a flight along a desired route based at least in part on a flight plan, an aircraft type, expected weather conditions, or a combination thereof, for the flight along the desired route, wherein the flight along the desired route is one of a plurality of flights within a flight network; and a memory operatively coupled to a processor and configured for storing data and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a method comprising; determining an available cargo capacity for the flight along the desired route based at least in pan on the expected fuel usage; determining, in cooperation with the trajectory predictor, a passenger ticket price, a cargo price, and a fuel quantity based at least in part on an available seating capacity, an expected passenger demand, the available cargo capacity, and an expected cargo demand to enhance profitability of the flight network; and outputting the passenger ticket price, the cargo price, and the fuel quantity to a user interface, to a storage device, to a network, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification