> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.idoptlab.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Input Format > How to structure your Excel parameter file for the LCC model 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: ``` _Cost_Model_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.