The Statistical Analysis of Commercial Flight Data for Defining the Payload-Range Performance of the Aircraft Conceptual Scheme Design

This research focuses on the application of statistical analysis of commercial flight data in aircraft conceptual scheme design. The payload-range performance of the commercial aircraft should be defined and analyzed by utilizing statistical methods during the conceptual scheme design, as it determines marketability. Statistical analysis is deemed essential due to the complexity and specific requirements of conceptual design. The research paradigm established in this study involves collecting and analyzing flight data of competitor aircrafts operating in the target market, using the OAG database as a foundation. This data is then utilized to build statistical models and conduct trade-off analysis. The results reveal that while the competitor aircraft has good route coverage, the conceptual scheme designed exhibits better payload-range performance, with a potential reduction in structural weight and better aerodynamic performance. Aircraft designers should take the imbalance in flight data between different airports, which is revealed by the application of statistical analysis, into consideration in conceptual scheme design. This study fills the gap between “market data-driven” and “performance modeling” in aircraft conceptual design, providing a reusable paradigm for subsequent research. The process of aircraft scheme design is a multi-disciplinary optimization process. When the range under certain payload of the concept scheme is already sufficient to cover the target market, how to conduct iterative design in conjunction with other indicators such as economy and commercial range is a problem worthy of in-depth study.