June 18, 2008
Let me not be sceptical and point out that, bar Branson’s Virgin, it is not so much climate change that is pushing airlines to decrease emissions but rising fuel prices. Because we can be happy that for whatever reason, there are many positive changes appearing in the world of planes.
Budget carrier Easyjet is bringing in snazzy new engines for its fleet of A319’s.
CEO Andy Harrison said: “There is no doubt that climate change is a real and pressing danger which should be a concern for us all and that the biggest benefits are to be gained from environmentally-sensitive companies developing and operating the big leaps forward in technology that will enable our industry to achieve the green growth that is expected of us.”
The new engines will reduce mono-nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 25%. This means less C02 emissions and will also lower their fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
The European Commission is developing a NOx emission legislation proposal that will help operators lower their environmental impact whilst also lowering costs.
May 18, 2008
Scandinavian Airline Services (SAS) is one airline using ‘green approach flights’, known as A -CDAs (Advanced Continuous Descent Approach).
Trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (and no doubt fuel consumption the landing approached involve the pilot using new technology to determine the aircraft’s landing time – minus the necessary waiting time in the air – so the plane glides for the final stage of the flight with engines operating at a lower speed.
The evaluation of the ‘green approach’ started in Arlanda, Sweden, in 2005, utilising a Boeing 737 aircraft. Since then more than 2000 of the approaches have been conducted.
The results are impressive, says SAS. Savings per green approach totalled approximately 100 kilos of fuel and 315 kilos of carbon dioxide (CO2). When green approaches are operated in dense traffic, SAS estimates a savings potential of 150 kilos of fuel and 470 kilos of carbon dioxide.
“In a future optimised Air Traffic Management system, where green approaches would be conducted on all its long haul flights, SAS says, “An estimated 492 tons of fuel and 1,550 tons of CO2 would be saved per flight.”
Scandinavian Airlines offers daily connections from Australia in co-operation with selected Star Alliance™ partners THAI, Singapore Airlines, Air China, United Airlines and frequent flyer partner Qantas. Services operate via Asia and North America to more than 75 destinations in Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic’s and Europe, utilising the gateways of Stockholm and Copenhagen.
See more at www.sasgroup.net/sustainability
RSS feed