Virgin Atlantic plan to save fuel - Airliners-India

Members Login

Post Info

TOPIC: Virgin Atlantic plan to save fuel

ArtofZen

Member

Status: Offline

Posts: 88

Date: Dec 3, 2006

Virgin Atlantic plan to save fuel	Permalink Closed

Virgin Atlantic plan to save fuel Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is to conduct a trial using 13 of its planes which could cut aviation fuel use and slash carbon dioxide emissions. By towing its Boeing 747-400 aircraft to take-off areas at London airports during December it said it could save up to two tonnes of fuel per flight. Aircraft will be towed to Heathrow and Gatwick runways to cut fuel burning. Virgin said a reduction of 120,000 tonnes in carbon emissions a year could be made if extended across its fleet. 'Starting grids' It is hoped to reduce the time engines are running before taking off to about 10 minutes. "Towing aircraft from a stand substantially reduces the amount of time they need to taxi with their engines running and reduces the time spent queuing before take-off," said Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles. Virgin Atlantic is working alongside airport operator BAA and National Air Traffic Services (Nats) during the trial, with a longer run-out expected in the first quarter of 2007. Aircraft will be towed from their stand at the airport to so-called "starting grids" - which are holding areas, close to a runway, consisting of several parking bays for aircraft. It means that aircraft can be towed closer to a runway before take-off. Teams from Virgin Atlantic are also holding talks with the international airports in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as JF Kennedy airport in New York, about the timing of similar trials. Link Here __________________ My favourite poem is the one that starts 'Thirty days hath September' because it actually tells you something. - Groucho Marx

Page 1 of 1 sorted by

Tweet this page

Post to Digg

Post to Del.icio.us

Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse