Enhancing airlift fuel efficiency through increased utilization of cargo capacity

Abstract

This paper addresses the constraints preventing full utilization of an aircraft’s cargo compartment. The fact that many sorties are flown with less than the maximum allowable weight or volume results in more airlift sorties being required to move the same amount of cargo. Various solutions are investigated to more efficiently fill the volume while simultaneously maximizing against the weight constraint. Solving the problem of the inefficient utilization of the airlift cargo compartment space can increase aircraft and aircrew availability, reduce fuel consumption for a given level of output, and reduce the number of flights required into constrained airfields. We recommend a pallet stacking solution moving cargo from Dover Air Force Base to Ramstein Air Force Base that we estimate would reduce C-17 sorties 31.4% when aggregated over a three calendar day period saving over eight million dollars per year.