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PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:42 pm
by Mattnz
Was just wondering if any of you guys have any idea what 'Cost Index' Air New Zealand use on their B733s, and A320's? And also Pacific Blue with the B738.

Cheers!

PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:20 pm
by travnz
from what i have heard it is rather low, around the 20 mark

PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:15 am
by Daniel
I don't even know what the cost index is laugh.gif
Can someone explain??

PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:29 am
by Anthony
Have no clue what it is or what Air NZ uses but I looked on Google and apparently the higher the cost index, the faster you cruise but the more fuel you burn.
British Airways apparently uses 28.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:36 pm
by Alex
Daniel wrote:
QUOTE (Daniel @ Jul 31 2008, 07:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't even know what the cost index is laugh.gif
Can someone explain??

I can give a brief explanation. It's used in FMC's in airliners, a two-digit number (I don't think goes into three digits?), and determines how economically the aircraft will fly. A higher cost index gives you a faster climb and cruise etc. (at least that's my limited understanding of it). winkyy.gif

Alex

PostPosted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:51 pm
by AlisterC
A couple of guys from my work have been on Pac Blue jump seat rides lately, I'll get the info off them or get SeanG to reply himself.. smile.gif

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:46 am
by SeanG
On my rides they used a *very* low CI or 10, yes 10!! But then made changes to the calculated N1 to meet their schedule requirements.

Cost Index is basically a calculation function of the Flight Management Computer. 100% is "all performance and no concessions to economy" (Makes the accountants grumpy), 0% is "all economy and no performance" (Spot the one that accountants would like!)

The FMC takes the Cost Index and uses that to calculate things like cruise, climb and descent speeds, Engine performance (N1) and climb rates. As an example on the takeoff from Christchurch at 55.1 tons and 10% CI we had a takeoff N1 off 86.5 (which is bugger all) with an initial climb at 175KIAS. Try that in PMDG it's quite interesting!

Hope that helps a bit ;-)

SeanG

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:49 am
by benwynn
Depends on the Route and a heap of other factors, its different from CHC-WLG and WLG-AKL. But yeah, they range from 10-30.

But for example, CI's as high as 99 are used occasionally on routes from HKG-LHR when flights are delayed etc- I think SeanG has mostly summed it up smile.gif

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:40 pm
by AlisterC
Thanks for that Sean! biggrin.gif Might explain why my Level D launches into the sky like a rocket with a CI of 70 laugh.gif

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:51 pm
by Mattnz
Thanks a lot, guys!

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:55 pm
by SeanG
Mattnz wrote:
QUOTE (Mattnz @ Aug 1 2008, 12:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks a lot, guys!


You're welcome... forgot to mention too... I was on Pac Blue, and despite being late on departure from Christchurch on the first flight (Weather in Welly), we still used 10% CI and finished the shift back in Christchurch (at 2 or 3 in the PM) on time... them NG's can go when they need to!

SeanG

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:35 pm
by Daniel
Thanks for the info Sean smile.gif
Interesting stuff about all of these different things.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 5:18 pm
by Anthony
Thanks for letting us know more about cost indexes and all that Sean.
Quite interesting.

PostPosted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:20 am
by SeanG
No probs at all.... But I tell you something, as a fast jet guy, I am starting to learn a disturbing amount about airliners. Might have to go blow something up to restore the natural order to the universe ;-)

SeanG

PostPosted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:11 pm
by Njbb1995
Yea I just learnt more there than at school this week!!!

PostPosted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:49 pm
by spongebob206
Very Interesting.

Thanks Guys

PostPosted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:00 am
by Daniel
Don't know if anyone still wants to know about what Air NZs use for there cost Index...
Anyway I went on a few 733s with Air NZ and asked what they used,
The use a cost index of 35 on Domestic Flights.
On International they use a cost Index of 20.