Page 38 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

SAF

GREEN BENEFITS OF SATNAV

he advent of full satellite-based
Tnavigati on over the North Atlanti c

will allow airlines to fly tracks between

Europe and North America far more effi-
ciently than those now organised by UK
NATS and Nav Canada and which will result
in considerable fuel savings and a dramatic

reduction in CO² emissions.
This is according to a new research paper

that appeared in the scientific journal

Environmental Research Letters. The paper’s
lead author, Cathie Wells of the UK's Univer- minimum air distance route and, therefore, North Atlantic flight times considerably,

sity of Reading, explained that air navigation focuses solely on CO² reduction. even compared with today’s most efficient

service providers organise today’s routes While other cost considerations come into ATM tracks, said Wells.

primarily to ensure safe operation and, to a play when deciding on scheduling and flight The study concludes that using time

lesser extent, take advantage of winds. paths, Wells submits those will become less optimisation could result in a 0.7 percent

Airlines request their preferred tracks important once global authorities institute to 16.4 percent reduction in air distance

in the hours before a flight and the ANSPs disincentives to emitting carbon. through each daily wind field, depending

create a daily track system that reflects the “I think the most important thing is going on flight direction and chosen ATM track.

airlines' wishes as closely as possible. to be that you're going to cut fuel to the Considering the 3,833,701 seats provided
Wells’s analysis shows how organising routes minimum and thus cut carbon emissions to between New York and London in 2019 and

optimised for winds and, by extension, the the minimum, and I don't think any airlines the amount of CO² an economy class return

distance flown by aircraft relative to the sur- are going to argue with that,” said Wells. flight between those two cities generates

rounding air leads to more fuel efficiency and “At the moment they're not being fined according to ICAO calculations, the use

helps airlines meet coming ICAO targets of two for the amounts of carbon they're emitting; of air-distance-optimised routing results

percent annual reduction in CO² emissions. there’s a new Corsia [Carbon Offsetting and in a 1.7 percent annual reduction in CO²

Recent research has centred on limiting en- Reduction Scheme for International Avia- for westbound flights and a 2.5 percent

ergy output, rather than time. Other strands tion] system that's coming out where they reduction for passengers flying east. That

of route optimisation have considered turbu- can do carbon offsetting, but it is very likely amounts to a total savings of 6.7 million kg

lence avoidance and balancing the reduction that it will not be long before pollution of CO² over a 91-day period. Q

of climate effects with time of flight. Wells’s fines start to appear. So they're going to be

paper identifies fuel and emissions savings all too happy to save money on both fuel Article courtesy: https://www.ainonline.

for transatlantic traffic by calculating the and whatever fines come into being.” com/aviation-news/air-transport/

excess air distance flown along the current According to the study's findings, the use 2021-02-01/study-pinpoints-green-

organised track system (OTS) relative to the of wind-optimised tracks would reduce benefits-satnav-over-north-atlantic

NEWS
iPADIS AND KÉROUL JOIN FORCES
related training programmes for airports opportunities for travelling for business

and airlines, as well as guidelines for the or pleasure as any other passenger, any-

he International Partners for seamless flow of passengers within airport where in the world,” said Olumuyiwa Be-

TAviati on Development, Inno- terminals and airline boarding areas. nard Aliu, founding president of iPADIS.

vation and Sustainability (iPADIS) and “iPADIS strongly believes that the avia- “We were honoured to have been

the Montreal-based Kéroul organisa- tion industry long-term sustainability and approached by iPADIS to co-operate in

tions have agreed on a joint initiative continued acceptability depends on the formulating solutions regarding airport

sector being sensitive to its social respon-
accessibility. Our extensive track record

to develop a global strategy aimed at sibility and responsive to the needs of all in training, evaluation and certification,

improving accessibility to air transport users. In this regard, our common vision combined with the expertise and profes-

for persons with disabilities. is for the establishment of international sionalism of our members, can contribute

The three-pronged approach includes standards and procedures to ensure that significantly to enhancing the overall trav-

the formulation of model national policies all persons with disabilities, including a el experience for persons with disabilities

for the handling of passengers requiring rapidly aging population in many parts and the elderly,” said Isabelle Ducharme,

assistance, accessibility assessments and of the world, have access to the same chair of the Board of Kéroul. Q
World Airnews | March 2021
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