The sensitivity of a flight track optimization program to variations in meteorological model input is examined. The Rapid Update cycle model is used to provide upper atmospheric wind data at 250 mb for the period January-March 1996.
Fictitious aircraft were flown along great circle and optimal flight paths between city pairs. Optimal flight tracks are clearly superior to great circle routes, which are commonly selected by pilots enroute. Flights selected from RUC wind forecasts with 6-hour lead time are nearly as accurate, on average, as flights determined from RUC analyses
The 8th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology