The fuel used to fly from one waypoint to the next waypoint.
Leg fuel = [distance between the two waypoints] ÷ [groundspeed] × [fuel burn rate for the leg type (climb, cruise, descent)]
| NOTE | The following paragraphs describe FliteStar’s basic logic for determining average fuel consumption during various flight segments. These methods are sufficiently accurate for light piston aircraft. Users of large aircraft or turbine-powered aircraft should use the Advanced Aircraft Model, which is part of the FliteStar Corporate version. |
To learn how to look at fuel consumption data in the Advanced Aircraft Model, see Leg Fuel Calculations in the Advanced Aircraft Model.
FliteStar determines an average fuel rate based on the average altitude for the segment. The fuel rate at the average segment altitude comes from interpolating the sea-level and service-ceiling climb fuel rates entered in Basic Info tab of the aircraft model (see Basic Aircraft Data).
FliteStar also determines an average groundspeed based on the average altitude for the segment. From the indicated climb speed entered in Basic Info tab of the aircraft model, FliteStar calculates true airspeed for the average altitude and then calculates the average ground speed for the segment.
To access the fuel consumption rate:
Click Edit > Default Aircraft Data.
Select an aircraft from the Aircraft Library Manager dialog box, and click Edit.
Select the cruise data tab appropriate for the aircraft model type:
FliteStar bases its fuel calculations during descent on:
Average altitude for the segment
Cruise performance data for that altitude (interpolated if required)
Basically, FliteStar assumes you will maintain the same power during descent as during cruise, and that the cruise power setting will result in higher airspeeds during descent. The indicated descent speed, entered in the Basic Info tab of the aircraft model, is used to calculate a True Airspeed and groundspeed for that segment, based on the average altitude for the segment. If it turns out that you must reduce power during descent to avoid operations at yellow-arc airspeeds, FliteStar's calculations err in the direction of safety; that is, you will actually use slightly less fuel than FliteStar calculated for descent.