Input Format

Every aircraft analysis is driven by an Excel workbook. The model expects three sheets with specific layouts.

Workbook naming convention

Name your file using this pattern so main() can auto-discover it:

<AircraftName>_Cost_Model_<AnnualHours>hrs.xlsx

Examples:

Joby_S4_Cost_Model_1500hrs.xlsx
Archer_Midnight_Cost_Model_2000hrs.xlsx
Conventional_Cessna_Cost_Model_1200hrs.xlsx

The extract_aircraft_name() function strips _Cost_Model_1500hrs and replaces underscores with spaces to produce a clean display name.

Sheet 1 — Parameters

A two-column table: parameter name in column A, value in column B. Row 1 is a header and is skipped automatically.

Parameter	Description	Units
`Aircraft_Baseline_Cost`	Base purchase price before automation premium	USD
`Automation_Cost_Base`	Additional cost for autonomous systems	USD
`Number_of_Pilots`	Pilots required per flight — set to `0` for autonomous	count
`Finance_Percent`	Fraction of purchase price that is financed (e.g. `0.85`)	ratio
`Interest_Rate`	Annual loan interest rate (e.g. `0.055`)	ratio
`Life_Cycle_Time`	Service life in years	years
`Flight_Hours_per_Year`	Annual utilisation	hours/year
`Mission_Stage_Length`	Typical stage length per flight	nautical miles
`Resale_Percent`	Residual value as fraction of purchase price	ratio
`Hull_Insurance_Rate`	Hull insurance as fraction of baseline cost	ratio
`Liability_Insurance_Rate`	Liability insurance as fraction of baseline cost	ratio
`Annual_Pilot_Salary`	Pilot annual compensation	USD/year
`Percent_Salaries_to_Benefits`	Benefits as fraction of pilot salary	ratio
`Number_of_Staff`	Non-pilot support staff count	count
`Annual_Staff_Salary`	Support staff annual compensation	USD/year
`Maintenance_Training_Cost`	Annual maintenance training spend	USD/year
`Pilot_Training_Cost`	Per-pilot annual recurrent training cost	USD/pilot/year
`Landing_Site_Hourly_Support`	Vertiport/landing site cost per flight hour	USD/hour
`Maintenance_Software_Cost`	Annual maintenance software subscriptions	USD/year
`Miscellaneous_Service_Cost`	Miscellaneous annual service costs	USD/year
`Property_Tax_Rate`	Property tax as fraction of baseline cost	ratio
`Hangar_and_Office_Cost`	Annual facility and office lease	USD/year
`Maintenance_Hours_per_Flight_Hour`	Maintenance labour hours per flight hour	hours/flight-hour
`Maintenance_Labor_Rate`	Maintenance technician hourly rate	USD/hour
`Fuel_Burn_per_Hour`	Fuel consumption rate	gallons/hour
`Fuel_Price_per_Gallon`	Current fuel price	USD/gallon
`Scheduled_Parts_Rate`	Scheduled parts allowance per flight hour	USD/hour
`Number_of_Engines`	Engine count	count
`Engine_Overhaul_Cost`	Cost per engine overhaul event	USD/engine
`Engine_Overhaul_Interval`	Hours between overhaul events	hours
`Midlife_Inspection_Cost`	Mid-life inspection reserve per hour	USD/hour
`Propeller_Cost`	Propeller replacement cost	USD
`Propeller_Life`	Propeller service life	hours
`Modernisation_Cost`	Avionics/systems upgrade cost	USD
`Modernisation_Interval`	Hours between modernisation events	hours
`Paint_Cost`	Paint job cost	USD
`Paint_Interval`	Hours between paint events	hours
`Refurbishing_Cost`	Interior refurbishment cost	USD
`Refurbishing_Interval`	Hours between refurbishment events	hours
`Battery_Cost`	Battery pack replacement cost (electric/hybrid)	USD
`Battery_Life`	Battery pack service life	hours
`Landing_Fee`	Fee per landing event	USD/landing
`Miscellaneous_Trip_Expenses`	Consumables and per-trip costs	USD/hour
`Profit_Margin`	Target operator profit margin (e.g. `0.15`)	ratio
`Aircraft_PAX_Seats`	Passenger seat count	count
`Percent_Repositioning_Flight_Hours`	Fraction of hours that are deadhead/repositioning	ratio
`Number_of_Pilots`	Pilots per aircraft (used for salary calculation)	count

For electric aircraft without conventional engines, set Number_of_Engines to 0 and Engine_Overhaul_Cost to 0. Battery costs are modelled separately via Battery_Cost and Battery_Life.

For autonomous aircraft, set Number_of_Pilots to 0. The model automatically applies the Automation_Cost_Base premium to the purchase price and increases liability insurance by 10%.

Sheet 2 — Lookup_Crews

Maps annual flight hours to the number of required crews. Rows 1–2 are headers and are skipped.

Flight_Hours_per_Year	Number_of_Crews
500	1
1000	1
1500	2
2000	2
2500	3
…	…

The model interpolates (and extrapolates) linearly to find crews at the actual annual hours.

Sheet 3 — Lookup_Speed

Maps mission stage length to average cruise speed. Rows 1–2 are headers and are skipped.

Mission_Stage_Length	Aircraft_Speed
10	80
25	110
50	140
100	160
…	…

Units: stage length in nautical miles, speed in knots. The model linearly interpolates to find speed at the configured stage length, then derives flight time and flights-per-hour from that.

Regional Air Mobility

Api

Guides

Workbook naming convention

Sheet 1 — Parameters

Sheet 2 — Lookup_Crews

Sheet 3 — Lookup_Speed

​Workbook naming convention

​Sheet 1 — Parameters

​Sheet 2 — Lookup_Crews

​Sheet 3 — Lookup_Speed

Workbook naming convention

Sheet 1 — Parameters

Sheet 2 — Lookup_Crews

Sheet 3 — Lookup_Speed