In aircraft design and aviation, the “Fuel Index” is a performance parameter used to measure an aircraft’s fuel efficiency or fuel consumption. It’s a valuable metric for airlines and operators to monitor how efficiently an aircraft is using fuel during a flight. The Fuel Index is often expressed in units such as liters per hour (L/hr), gallons per hour (gal/hr), or kilograms per hour (kg/hr), depending on the measurement system used.
Formula for Fuel Index: The Fuel Index is typically calculated using the formula:
- Fuel Index: A measure of fuel efficiency, typically expressed in units like L/hr, gal/hr, or kg/hr, per unit of distance flown.
- Fuel Flow Rate: The rate at which fuel is consumed by the aircraft’s engines during a specific period, usually measured in liters per hour (L/hr), gallons per hour (gal/hr), or kilograms per hour (kg/hr).
- Distance Flown: The total distance covered by the aircraft during the same period, measured in kilometers (km), nautical miles (NM), or statute miles (SM), depending on the distance unit used.