A system and method for optimizing performance of an aircraft or boat through detection and trending of engine deterioration based on the performance of the vehicle's gas turbine. The system and method detects declines in engine power due to either of in-transit events or over the extended lifetime of the engine, the declines being due to routine engine part aging or an event. As engine power gradually or suddenly deteriorates, the system and method lowers a maximum operating line which defines the safe limits for peak engine power consumption during flight. For in-transit events, the system and method detects when actual power consumption is approaching the current maximum operating line. The controller may then automate changes to operations of entirely separate aircraft systems, such as rebalancing electrical energy consumption by various non-engine elements of the aircraft.