Effect of flap settings on energy and environmental performance during landing and approach phases in aircraft

Purpose As the aviation industry develops solutions for decarbonization, effective energy efficiency strategies in aircraft operations are emerging as a crucial tool in optimizing energy exchange processes. Purpose of this study to explore the environmental impact of energy efficiency in flap management using an entropy-based approach, examining the consumption behaviours of derived from four reference aircraft engines based on flap angles. Design/methodology/approach This study focus on the environmental impact of energy efficiency in flap management using entropy-based approach and developed environmental indicator for evaluating of the irreversibility impact based on flap angles. The results reveal significant variations in energy demand, efficiency and entropy production across different flap deflections. Findings The delayed approach showed a 20.01% reduction in entropy production compared to the standard approach, indicating a more efficient use of energy and lower environmental pollution. The environmental performance indicator for the standard approach was 0.818, while the delayed approach had a slightly lower value of 0.775, corresponding to a reduction in environmental pollution potential. The energy efficiency ratio showed averages of 40.04% for the standard approach and 33.69% for the delayed approach. Originality/value This study contributes to decarbonization efforts by exploring the environmental impact of flap management and its role in optimizing energy efficiency in aircraft operations.