"Jets to cut engines and glide to save fuel"

Friday, March 30, 2007

Jets to cut engines and glide to save fuel
The Australian Associated Press


QANTAS and Air New Zealand jets arriving at Auckland airport will cut their
engines and glide into their final stage of landing in a trial to save fuel
and cut greenhouse emissions.

The glided landings - believed to be a world first - will start at New
Zealand's biggest airport from mid-April, national air services provider
Airways New Zealand said. 

The practice was safe and the measure could provide significant fuel savings
and reductions in carbon emissions, said Lew Jenkins of Airways New Zealand.

"This is a perfectly safe procedure, and other flights will be controlled by
Airways New Zealand's air traffic controllers to remain clear of the trial
flight paths," Mr Jenkins said. 

"All commercial airlines want to be safe but they also need to be
profitable, fuel efficient, and environmentally friendly, and a key
component in this equation is fuel." 

Federal Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile said
Australia was introducing greater flexibility in flight paths and continuous
descent approaches in an effort to cut carbon emissions. 

"Australia supports a global approach to aviation emissions reduction," Mr
Vaile said.

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