Air Craft Fuel Effieciency?

Question

What is the fuel efficiency in terms of passenger miles per gallon for:

A. 737/A320 (Fully Loaded)

Prop Plane (ATR72 or Q400 fully loaded)

Assume both planes are flying the same route, say a 400 mile Trip.

What about a 1,000 mile trip (assuming the props have enough fuel for such a trip)?

Thanks--John

Answer 1

Jets are more efficient on longer trips, turbo props are better at shorter trips. Jets burn an enormous amount of fuel getting to altitude, and if you don't get them up high, and let them stay there for a while you are going to be eaten alive in fuel costs. I flew both the ATR-72 and the L-1011, and I can tell you that you use about 90% thrust to get to altitude in both, but then in a jet, you pull the power back to about 20-25% when you are in cruise. The ATR doesn't go as high, or get there as fast, but it can maintain it's speed in a descent right up to the airport and then slam it's speed down to approach and land.... and since ALL aircraft are limited to 250 kts below 10,000 feet, you see they are even when they are getting close to home. On a 400 mile trip, it would be very close in time and efficiency with the edge going to the ATR, but then too.. the ATR only carries 64 seats and a 737 would carry over 110 -180+ depending on model.. so when you figure seat miles the problem can be.. you have to fill up that airplane to make it profitable.

Typically, the longer the trip, the better the jets do. On the other hand, a turbo-prop can descend and land in the case of an emergency in a much shorter time than a jet. They are very safe.

Answer 2

Its not that the right answer can't be given because it is too secerative, the problem is the answer is far too complex.  You could go out and buy yourself an operating manual for a 737, It will cost you a few thousand bucks, but you can do it. It will give you several performance profiles based on weight. Each weight will have a different fuel burn, and that burn depends on throttle setting, and altitude.

Then comes the math of converting pounds of fuel per hour into gallons per hour, and then into miles per gallon. Its not hard but It won't be accurate because there are more variables, like wind and temperature aloft.

I'll do my best at answering your question.  A 737 is going to burn much more than say a Q400 over a given trip. They are both very efficient planes, the Dash sips fuel (relatively speaking).  But the 737 is going to hold many more passengers,  so that must be figured into the equation.

Airlines have their needs down to a science. They need to get the most people from point A to point B at the lowest cost they can. If flying a bigger plane means more fuel cost, it is offset by higher revenue, provided they can fill the seats.

It doesn't make sense to fly a 777 from Cheyenne Wy to Denver Co for 35 people. Likewise, its not practical to run 20 flights a in a Dash carrying 60 some people at a time when 3 flights on a 747 would do the trick.

I think I went a step above what you were asking. Fuel mileage in airplanes is very poor compared to cars, but one plane can replace a lot of efficient cars and ultimately burn less fuel.

Answer 3

The manufactors hols ths info a close secret. Very little people can tell you the RIGHT answer.