System and method for calculating a fuel consumption differential corresponding to an aircraft trajectory revision

A method for calculating a fuel consumption differential corresponding to an aircraft changing from an original trajectory (which incorporates the cost model of the airline through speed and altitude parameters within the flight plan) to a revised trajectory, the method including (1) calculating a first total excess energy associated with flying the aircraft at the original trajectory beginning at an execution time, the first total excess energy including excess energy due to climb and excess energy due to deviation of the original trajectory from an efficiency curve of the aircraft; (2) calculating a second total excess energy associated with flying the aircraft at the revised trajectory beginning at the execution time, the second total excess energy including excess energy due to climb and excess energy due to deviation of the revised trajectory from the efficiency curve; (3) comparing the first and second total excess energies to obtain a total excess energy differential; and (4) calculating the fuel consumption differential based on the total excess energy differential.