Comparative analysis of light transport aircraft usefulness from the point of view of direct operating cost and fuel consumption

The need to increase speed, range and operational load in air transport is currently more topical than ever and is related to the efficiency of fuel use. Minimisation of costs and fuel consumption is connected with the necessity to analyse the influence of profile and procedures of flights depending on the type of aircraft functioning in the transport system. The main objective of the paper was to develop a method of determining costs and fuel consumption depending on the aircraft type and the profile of transport tasks fulfilled, and then to carry out comparative calculations for various types of aircraft designed for local transport. Based on the comparative analysis of results, conclusions have been formulated concerning the optimum ranges of using aircraft with various types of propulsion and optimum flight profiles.