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

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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.

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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.
ParameterDescriptionUnits
Aircraft_Baseline_CostBase purchase price before automation premiumUSD
Automation_Cost_BaseAdditional cost for autonomous systemsUSD
Number_of_PilotsPilots required per flight — set to 0 for autonomouscount
Finance_PercentFraction of purchase price that is financed (e.g. 0.85)ratio
Interest_RateAnnual loan interest rate (e.g. 0.055)ratio
Life_Cycle_TimeService life in yearsyears
Flight_Hours_per_YearAnnual utilisationhours/year
Mission_Stage_LengthTypical stage length per flightnautical miles
Resale_PercentResidual value as fraction of purchase priceratio
Hull_Insurance_RateHull insurance as fraction of baseline costratio
Liability_Insurance_RateLiability insurance as fraction of baseline costratio
Annual_Pilot_SalaryPilot annual compensationUSD/year
Percent_Salaries_to_BenefitsBenefits as fraction of pilot salaryratio
Number_of_StaffNon-pilot support staff countcount
Annual_Staff_SalarySupport staff annual compensationUSD/year
Maintenance_Training_CostAnnual maintenance training spendUSD/year
Pilot_Training_CostPer-pilot annual recurrent training costUSD/pilot/year
Landing_Site_Hourly_SupportVertiport/landing site cost per flight hourUSD/hour
Maintenance_Software_CostAnnual maintenance software subscriptionsUSD/year
Miscellaneous_Service_CostMiscellaneous annual service costsUSD/year
Property_Tax_RateProperty tax as fraction of baseline costratio
Hangar_and_Office_CostAnnual facility and office leaseUSD/year
Maintenance_Hours_per_Flight_HourMaintenance labour hours per flight hourhours/flight-hour
Maintenance_Labor_RateMaintenance technician hourly rateUSD/hour
Fuel_Burn_per_HourFuel consumption rategallons/hour
Fuel_Price_per_GallonCurrent fuel priceUSD/gallon
Scheduled_Parts_RateScheduled parts allowance per flight hourUSD/hour
Number_of_EnginesEngine countcount
Engine_Overhaul_CostCost per engine overhaul eventUSD/engine
Engine_Overhaul_IntervalHours between overhaul eventshours
Midlife_Inspection_CostMid-life inspection reserve per hourUSD/hour
Propeller_CostPropeller replacement costUSD
Propeller_LifePropeller service lifehours
Modernisation_CostAvionics/systems upgrade costUSD
Modernisation_IntervalHours between modernisation eventshours
Paint_CostPaint job costUSD
Paint_IntervalHours between paint eventshours
Refurbishing_CostInterior refurbishment costUSD
Refurbishing_IntervalHours between refurbishment eventshours
Battery_CostBattery pack replacement cost (electric/hybrid)USD
Battery_LifeBattery pack service lifehours
Landing_FeeFee per landing eventUSD/landing
Miscellaneous_Trip_ExpensesConsumables and per-trip costsUSD/hour
Profit_MarginTarget operator profit margin (e.g. 0.15)ratio
Aircraft_PAX_SeatsPassenger seat countcount
Percent_Repositioning_Flight_HoursFraction of hours that are deadhead/repositioningratio
Number_of_PilotsPilots 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%.

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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_YearNumber_of_Crews
5001
10001
15002
20002
25003
……
The model interpolates (and extrapolates) linearly to find crews at the actual annual hours.

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Sheet 3 — Lookup_Speed

Maps mission stage length to average cruise speed. Rows 1–2 are headers and are skipped.
Mission_Stage_LengthAircraft_Speed
1080
25110
50140
100160
……
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.