Elyse Moody writes:

One of this morning's breakout sessions gave some answers.

Mark Ulliman, general manager - services for GE Aviation, ID'd key ways to get the maximum bang from your fuel buck.

1-Minimize deterioration. You can do this by engine core washing, which is becoming more popular, Ulliman said. Trend monitoring and remote diagnostics also can help detect abnormal shifts in performance.

2-Get the most effective repairs and overhauls. HPC blades should be your first priority, Ulliman said -- particularly knowing when to repair v.s. when to replace.

A final thought, echoed by other speakers as well: Don't make clearances too tight. That actually can hurt your efficiency. Focus should be on the "right" clearance, with roundness as your aim.

Larry Slate, managing director - engineering for United, also cited structural modifications, such as winglets for the Boeing 757, that can have a big impact on fuel burn.

He and Amir Nasruddin, director of technical support for jetBlue, both noted that removing weight can be as important as adding modifications. Taking out unused items -- even as small as an extra coffeemaker -- can have an impact.