Impact of aircraft performance differences on fuel consumption of aircraft in air traffic management environment

Performance differences between the aircraft types are natural and they inevitably cause problems in the air traffic system, particularly when slower aircraft types are followed by faster types in a climb or cruise queue. This paper presents the excess fuel consumption impact of aircraft performance differences in the air traffic environment. For this purpose, both climb and cruise phases of a flight mission are analyzed. Revision of the airworthiness regulations and air traffic procedures are suggested. The need for a flight level - cruise performance categorization is also recommended.