Abstract: A method for the automatic control of fuel consumption in an airplane, comprises the determination and indication in real time of the specific range of the airplane as a ratio of the ground speed and the fuel flow rate. A maximum specific range is searched and maintained by producing, in the intervals between two subsequent searches of the maximum, control actions for maintaining an angle of attack, which corresponds to the last maximum of the specific range. When the conditions under which the maximum has been found to change, a new maximum is searched. An apparatus for performing the method, comprises transducers of ground speed and fuel flow rate, and a computing microprocessor connected via an output and an interface to a digital indicator as well as to a device for controlling the thrust of the airplane engines.