Aircraft Thrust/Power Management Can Save Defense Fuel, Reduce Engine Maintenance Costs, and Improve Readiness

PLRD-82-74 Published: Jul 29, 1982. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 1982.

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the Department of Defense's (DOD) effort to save fuel and reduce maintenance costs on aircraft engines through thrust/power management.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should require the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to more effectively establish criteria, such as gallons or training accomplishments per flight hour, against which to evaluate progress in improving aircraft fuel efficiency. These criteria should be standardized by aircraft type and command, wherever possible, so that effective and meaningful evaluations can be made.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to report how they plan to analyze and evaluate the use of reduced power by tactical fighter aircraft. These plans should identify the aircraft to be evaluated, the methods to be used in the evaluations, and target dates for completion. The plans should be provided to and monitored by the Secretary of Defense.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to require that all appropriate aircraft, including tactical fighters, use reduced power when cost effective and consistent with safety and mission considerations.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to ensure fuel efficient operating and maintenance procedures followed by one service are implemented by the other where applicable.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to more effectively monitor efforts by subordinate commands and units, through such methods as review and comparison of local procedures and followup to efficiency studies and suggestions, to identify and implement fuel efficient operating and maintenance procedures where possible.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should issue policy and guidelines identifying the importance of thrust/power management and the positive effects on fuel use and improved engine life which have been achieved by bomber, tanker, and transport aircraft. The Secretary should direct the services to give greater attention to the possible benefits of thrust/power management as a means of saving tactical aircraft fuel and reducing engine maintenance costs.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should require the Secretaries of the Air Force and Navy to more effectively monitor existing fuel consumption data to identify trends, variances, and potential problems.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should maintain oversight of the services' programs to: (1) implement aircraft thrust/power management; (2) ensure effective coordination of information; and (3) implement operating and maintenance procedures where possible.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force and Navy to conduct engineering analyses and flight tests to determine the extent to which fighter aircraft can use reduced power safely and economically.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

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Topics

National Defense

Aircraft enginesAircraft maintenanceCombat readinessFuel consumptionEnergy costsEnergy efficiencyFuel conservationLogisticsMaintenance costsMilitary aircraft