Big fuel savings on Air NZ test flight

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

CLEAR SKIES: Air New Zealand's 'perfect flight' using optimal flying conditions and the co-operation of US, New Zealand and Australian aviation authorities, has been hailed as a success.

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Air New Zealand's "perfect flight" using optimal flying conditions and the co-operation of US, New Zealand and Australian aviation authorities, was hailed as a success in San Francisco today after the overnight journey from Auckland saved 4600 litres of aviation fuel.

The 4600 litres of fuel saving is around 4 per cent less fuel than normally used.

This meant 9 tonnes less carbon dioxide was emitted into the atmosphere. The flight across the Pacific normally produces 290 tonnes of C02.

The airline's chief pilot and operations general manager Captain Dave Morgan said at a press conference at San Francisco Airport after the Boeing 777 touched down five minutes early: "We've proved today the way ahead for the industry."

The normal commercial flight NZ8, dubbed ASPIRE 1 (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) is the first  tailored test flight on the Pacific using technology and cleared gates at each end, eliminating air traffic congestion to test flight and fuel efficiency. It is part of a worldwide drive to make the aviation industry more environmentally friendly.

The aircraft sourced power from Auckland Airport's supply while still on the tarmac instead of burning its own fuel to drive electricity while boarding passengers.

Six hourly updated weather reports sent elecronically using GPS-based navigation to on-board computers meant the pilots could change their flight path to avoid bad weather.

They therefore didn't need to rely on air traffic controllers. The flight made three deviations during the night. Two made small savings but one change, south-east of Hawaii saved 350kg of fuel and two minutes flying time.

Maximum thrust was used on take off to reach optimum altitude as soon as possible and an uninhibted gradual, slow descent on landing instead of the usual rev up and rev down procedure, all contributed to the fuel savings. The landing was also quieter. The US Federal Aviation Authority, Airways New Zealand and Air Services Australia ensured the flight went without a hitch.

United Airlines and Qantas will follow Air New Zealand with gate to gate test flights across the Pacific.

Airlines contribute 2-3 per cent of the world's CO2 emissions and aviation authorities and airlines are working around the world to reduce the footprint with technological advances and new flying patterns.

Air NZ has been at the forefront of environmentally efficient flights and will fly its first aircraft with biofuel from jatropha plants in one engine before the end of the year. Today's tailored flight started out as a plan to cut carbon but with jet fuel prices still more than US$100 the  cost savings and quicker turaround of flights has made the development all the more urgent to progress.

US airlines have done full and partial tailored flights in the US and similar flights are being done across  by other airlines the Atlantic into Miami. Plans are also underway to do them out of Europe in the hope that all aircraft will do them one day.

*Denise McNabb travelled to San Francisco as a guest of Air New Zealand.