Every Drop Counts at FedEx

Thanks to 46 Fuel Sense Programs, FedEx has cut back on its main source of emissions, jet fuel. Almost 72 million gallons were saved in FY14. And since the program’s inception in 2007, Fuel Sense has saved more than 334 million gallons.

The Fuel Sense team—comprised of 12 departments, including a dedicated Fuel Management Office—is charged with identifying efficiencies across aviation operations. One of this year’s initiatives used innovative data analysis tools to identify small changes that could be made to the engine wash process to improve the engine’s perfor­mance and help it operate more efficiently. This saved 3.4 million gallons of fuel and 33,134 metric tons of CO2e emissions in FY14. A suggestion by one crew member to change the routing on one flight saved another 9,000 gallons of fuel.

Seven new FedEx Fuel Sense programs were launched in 2014. They included developing algorithms that better predict the amount of fuel needed to taxi based on the parking gate and departure runway; reducing the weight flown by transitioning to lighter containers and replacing pilots' paper manuals with electronic ones and optimizing departure and arrival procedures and separation standards in ongoing collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Explore the Fuel Sense blog series and hear more from managers on the front lines of fuel savings:

Every Drop Counts at FedEx Express By Bobbi Wells, MD Air Ops Planning and Analysis, FedEx Express

It Only Works When We Work Together By Walt Nolte Sr. Mgr. Line Mx, FedEx Express

Two Misunderstood Words: Economical and Responsible Chris Simons, GOC Manager, FedEx Express

When Does it Make Sense to go Extra Thick? Joel Murdock MD Strategic Projects, FedEx Express

Saving Fuel to Defend our Nation Colonel Keith Boone, United States Air Force

Simple Adjustments Save Millions Patrick Elam, MD National Hub Ops, FedEx Express