We use Flight Data Recorder information from an operational fleet, to model the fuel burn of aircraft on the surface. A set of processes that may govern the total fuel burn were investigated, and the statistically significant ones were included in the model. It was found that the fuel consumption could vary by a substantial amount, based on the velocity profile of the aircraft on the surface. The same techniques can be applied to model aircraft emissions, creating opportunities for further research with a direct impact on air quality and carbon emissions.