The document discusses various weight reduction initiatives airlines can implement to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It describes how reducing aircraft weight by even small amounts, such as 500 kg, can significantly reduce annual fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions. Examples of weight reduction strategies mentioned include optimizing catering and potable water loads, replacing metal cutlery and gin bottles with plastic versions, carefully monitoring weight increases from aircraft modifications, and considering removing paint from aircraft to reduce weight. The document emphasizes that weight is a major factor influencing fuel efficiency and emissions, so weight reduction should be a key priority for airlines.

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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AVIATION OPERATIONAL MEASURES FOR
FUEL AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION
WORKSHOP
Weight Management
Kevin M Morris
Manager Environment, British Airways

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Weight Management
Weight effects on fuel and CO2
Weight reduction initiatives -
a few examples
Tracking weight growth and
fuel efficiency
Epilogue:
To paint, or not to paint - that is the
question

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Conflicts
Weight minimisation - easy to
see the benefits
BUT.....
There are usually conflicts with
other policies as well

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Why look at weight?
A “rule of thumb”:
additional fuel requirement:
=3-4% of weight increase x hours flown
– e.g. extra weight = 500 kg
– flight time = 10 hours
– extra fuel burn = 150-200 kg
– extra CO2 = 470 - 630 kg
For Every Flight!

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Fuel cost of Weight
assuming 5,000 hours/year
extra fuel burn = 87 500 kg
extra CO2 = 276 000 kg
extra cost = $ 22 000
• and that’s just the fuel!
Weight control is important

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Catering - a lot of weight!

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Potable Water
Aircraft carry potable water in
water tanks for use in flight
Not all are necessarily
required, but mostly always
filled to capacity

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Potable Water
Blanking off 1, out of 3 potable
water tanks for “medium-haul”
B777-200, prevents their use
100kg of water, per flight not
loaded
Annual savings estimated as
380 tonnes fuel, 1 200 tonnes CO2

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Plastic cutlery
Post 11th September 2001
Many new measures to improve
security
Most add weight
One actually reduces weight -
plastic cutlery

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Plastic Cutlery
Using one route as an example
Weight reductions (LHR-NY):
• Concorde - 34.26 kg
• B747-400 - 32.60 kg
• B777-200 - 34.40 kg
Equates to: 52 t/yr fuel ($ 13k)
165 t/yr CO2

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Conflicts
BUT THEN WHO
LIKES EATING
WITH PLASTIC
CUTLERY?

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Plastic Gin Bottles
Duty Free bottles of Gin
Opportunity to substitute plastic
bottles for glass ones
Weight saving approx. 0.5 kg
per bottle
Average of 12 bottles carried on
each Long-haul flight

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Plastic Gin Bottles
Total annual fuel savings for
Long-haul flights
B747-200 = 4.7 tonnes
B747-400 = 51.2 tonnes
B777-200 = 39.3 tonnes
Total fuel saved = 95.2 tonnes
Total CO2 saved = 300.3 tonnes

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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No Conflicts?
Gin unaffected!
Conclusion:
Help the Environment,
Buy Duty Free on board

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Modifications

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Concorde - weight goes up
Additional weight due to:
Fuel tank liners - 400 kg
Unusable fuel - 200 kg
Total extra weight:
600 kg per aircraft

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Concorde - weight goes down
Reduction in weight due to:
New cabin interior - 350 kg
New tyres - 164 kg
Total weight reduction:
514 kg per aircraft

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Concorde - weight the same?
Weight change summary:
Increase - 600 kg
Reduction - 514 kg
Overall - 86 kg increase
Modifications can make a
difference!

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Modifications

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Ottawa, 5-6 November 2002
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Modifications
Modifications usually add
weight
Important to ensure that mods
are fully removed when no
longer required!
One of the reasons for
unaccounted weight growth

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Monitoring and Control
Can’t control what you can’t
measure
Modifications (mandatory & other)
Unaccounted weight growth
Tankering of fuel
Extra fuel requirement, Emissions
Extra expense, less profit!

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Monitoring and Control
“Weight Watchers”
track aircraft weight over time
monitor the actual weight of mods
Fuel Efficiency Group
track aircraft fuel efficiency over time
Allows the use of statistical contingency
fuel (worth $7M per year to BA)
Saves fuel/money/Environment

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Paint - who needs it?
Paint weighs a lot!
A320-200, approx. 110 -150 kg
B747-400, approx. 410 - 550 kg
But it also provides a service:
Protection - helps prevent corrosion
Ensures a smooth surface
Provides an identity

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So - who does need paint?

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AVIATION OPERATIONAL MEASURES FOR
FUEL AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION
WORKSHOP
Thank you !