Jul 27 2010
Recently, Alaska Airlines demonstrated sophisticated flight techniques during its test flight over the site Puget Sound which burned less amount of fuel and decreased emissions by 35% in comparison with traditional landing.
This flight came under the ‘Greener Skies’ project of Alaska Airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) that had its focus on utilizing guidance technology that is based on satellite.
The airline, in collaboration with the Seattle Port, Boeing as well as other airlines, is currently seeking approval from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) for its procedures. The test flight made use of RNP (Required Navigation Performance), a satellite guided technology for flying more direct and continuous descent approaches.
As a resultant of these new techniques, it is estimated that there will be a cut in fuel usage by 2.1 million gallons every year and will also reduce 22,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. Planning as well as testing of flight techniques will be continuing through 2010 and will be integrated into Alaska Airlines at Sea-Tac.
Source: http://www.alaskaair.com