Useful load– Maximum amount of fuel, usable oil, passengers and cargo that can be carried. Calculated by subtacting Empty Weight from Max T/O Weight.
True Airspeed (TAS) – Speed at which the aircraft is traveling through the air. For example assuming no headwinds or tailwind, TAS would be equivilent to the aircrafts speed across the ground. At higher altitudes aircraft usually experience higher TAS due to thinner air which is easier to push through. TAS is usually represented in Kts. 1.15 Statute (normal) Mile = 1 Nautical Mile.
Range– The Distance an aircraft can reasonably be expected to fly. These numbers assume factory standard fuel tanks size, zero tailwind or headwind, and a 30 minute fuel reserve. These numbers are also in Nautical Miles.
T/O Distance Over Obstacle (ft) – Amount of Distance required for T/O and to clear a 50 foot obstacle from sea level on a aviation standard day.
GPH– Fuel burn in Gallons per hour at 75% power. 1 Gallon = 3.78 Litres.
Hourly Fuel Cost– Using our assumed average cost for fuel, located on the main page, the fuel cost for a flight with an average power of 75%.
CPSM (Cost per Seat Mile)– Since the only cost we analyze here is fuel, this reflects how much fuel is burned per mile per seat. Essentially its the fuel cost to send each seat one mile.
MPG– Miles the aircraft will travel under ideal conditions per gallon of fuel.
Carry Efficiency– A calculation of how far in nautical miles the aircraft will move 1000 lbs of useful load for a gallon of fuel. It is a reflection of how efficiently an aircraft moves load.
F-T– An abstract number used to create a benchmark with which to compare aircraft. It reflects how well the aircraft turns fuel into “saved” time and “distance” efficiently. It is unrelated to the amount of load the aircraft can carry.
F-T Payload– Takes the F-T number a step further and introduces an aircrafts useful load. Its a combination of the (Carry Efficieny) value and (F-T) value.
TVPH($) Time Value Per Hour– This is how much your Time must be worth to justify taking this particular aircraft in comparision with driving an economy car. It takes the amount of extra fuel cost incurred to fly this aircraft to a destination verse driving an economy car and dividing it by the time “saved”.
TVPH($) per person– Assuming a full aircraft, it is how much each occupants Time must be worth to justify taking this particular model aircraft verse driving in an economy car.
