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Originally Posted by wheelsup  Flying slower sounds good until you realize that adding 5 minutes of time enroute to save a couple hundred pounds of gas actually is a complete wash at my company. You might burn 200# less in fuel BUT due to the increased mx costs (approximately $16.60/minute) it'll be the same cost overall (that's with fuel @ $3.50/gal). Yeah you might save some gas but you're pissing it out the other side in higher mx costs, only to arrive several minutes later. Just something to consider, of course working with your companies MX cost numbers.
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The MX argument you give is not totally correct. Flying 5 more minutes will not equate to $80 in higher cost for the flight ($16 x 5) even though mx costs are what you say they are.
The majority of the MX costs are fixed costs, C-Checks, engine changes, line mechanics etc. These costs will be present whether the aircraft flies 10hrs/day or 8hrs/day. The actual wear and tear of 5 minutes of flying is rather insignificant.
Here's an example...I have a Learjet...I do $180,000 worth of MX on it per year or $500/day. This includes it's annual, and all required checks and having MX available 6hrs/day. I fly the plane 1hr per day....So Mx costs are $500/hr. If I now decide to fly the plane 2 hrs per day, my mx cost per hr flown would drop ($250/hr). Sure I would have more mx on the aircraft throughout the year, but overall the cost of mx would be distributed over more hours flown lowering the cost of mx per hour.
So....getting back to your example...Flying 5 more minutes will not directly cost $80 in increased maintenance.