Abstract: A method for aircraft brake wear optimization includes processes by which the actual instantaneous temperature of brakes can be determined during taxi braking operations. The invention is particularly applicable to carbon disc brakes in aircraft. In the system, the energy absorbed by the carbon disc brakes during taxiing operation is calculated and a conversion made from energy absorbed to disc temperature is made. The system uses less than a full complement of brakes during taxiing such that the brakes actually employed during taxiing are at elevated temperatures, which are characterized by improved brake wear. The system provides substantially instantaneous thermal information, in contrast to the prior art relying upon thermal measurements rather than energy calculations.