APiJET, a Seattle-based aviation data analytics company, has developed a tool called Digital Winglets that helps passenger and cargo airlines optimize their fuel use while flying at cruising altitudes. The software incorporates real-time data about wind, weather, plane speed and weight, air traffic, and other parameters, along with a plane’s Aircraft Performance Model. This information is used to suggest flight plan changes, such as moving to a different altitude, adjusting speed, or shifting a route. Airlines that have tested APiJET’s product have seen fuel use reductions of approximately 1.5% for passenger flights and 2.5% for cargo flights.
CEO Rob Green highlighted the financial and environmental benefits of using the Digital Winglets tool, emphasizing the need for airlines to reduce costs, pollution, and carbon emissions. While there are efforts globally to transition to non-fossil fuels in planes, such as sustainable aviation fuels and electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft, these alternatives are still in progress. The FAA grant of $4.5 million will help APiJET expand the reach of its tool by developing Aircraft Performance Models for additional aircraft types, funded through the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Digital Winglets was built using flight-optimization algorithms developed and tested by NASA, known as Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR). The software operates on remote servers in the cloud, analyzing flight plans and suggesting changes that are then approved by dispatchers and pilots before implementation. The tool can also be integrated into third-party applications and provides recommendations directly to pilots, offering an easy-to-use interface that requires minimal training for users. The system can be customized with additional data, such as national airspace regulations and flight restrictions.
APiJET, formed in 2018 following a merger between Aviation Partners and iJET Technologies, has since received a majority stake investment from private equity firm Indigo Partners. The company includes leaders and engineers from Boeing, Microsoft, and other tech ventures who work on aviation sustainability. APiJET has teamed up with airlines like Frontier Airlines to field test Digital Winglets, with plans to conduct additional trials before launching the product for sale. Other recipients of the FAA’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition program funding in Washington state include bp America Cherry Point Refinery, ZeroAvia, and Boeing for various sustainable aviation projects.
In addition to reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions, Digital Winglets can also optimize flight routes to reduce the formation of planet-warming contrails, a concern among European regulators. The software’s ability to suggest various adjustments to flight plans, such as changes in altitude and route, highlights its versatility and potential impact on the aviation industry. By leveraging advanced technology and real-time data analytics, APiJET’s tool contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve fuel efficiency, sustainability, and environmental impact within the commercial aviation sector.
