About Korean Helicopters & Fuel Consumption
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) has developed several helicopters including the KUH-1 Surion, the Marineon, and the new Light Armed (LAH) and Light Civil (LCH) helicopters. These aircraft serve military, law enforcement, rescue, and civilian transport missions. Fuel consumption depends on:
- Model & Engine Size: Larger helicopters like the Surion consume more fuel compared to lighter LCH variants.
- Payload & Passenger Load: Additional weight increases power requirements, raising fuel burn rate.
- Flight Profile: Hovering and vertical climbs require more fuel than steady-level cruise flight.
- Weather & Terrain: Hot temperatures and high-altitude environments reduce efficiency and raise fuel use.
- Fuel Type: Most Korean helicopters use Jet-A or Jet-A1 aviation fuel.
Calculation Formulas:
- Fuel Used = Burn Rate (liters/hour) × Flight Hours
- Total Cost = Fuel Used × Fuel Price
- CO₂ Emissions = Fuel Used × Emission Factor (kg CO₂ per liter)
Example:
A KAI KUH-1 Surion with a burn rate of 600 L/hr flying for 2.5 hours using Jet-A fuel at ₹95/liter:
- Fuel Used = 600 × 2.5 = 1500 liters
- Total Cost = 1500 × 95 = ₹142,500
- CO₂ Emissions = 1500 × 2.50 = 3750 kg CO₂
