Indian air traffic control move to support more efficient flight paths

Mumbai: Indian air traffic controllers will participate in a 16 July demonstration flight that seeks to determine new air routes that are more fuel-efficient than the current ones. These next-generation air routes are expected to result in savings on fuel and flying time, besides lowering carbon dioxide emissions and saving money.
“This experiment will lead to flexible, user-preferred routes, which may not necessarily be shortest (as the crow flies), but certainly more efficient in terms of fuel use and lower emissions,” said a consultant to airlines who did not want to be named. “It will allow the airline to maximize use of winds, on-board avionics and meteorological updates to chart and file the most efficient flight path.”
Flexible routes: Indian airlines will welcome any move to any savings they can make on fuel, which accounts for up to 40% of their operating costs. Sales tax on the fuel can be as much as 24%. Photo Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times
The Perth-Dubai demonstration flight is being operated by Emirates and will be supported by a senior Mumbai air traffic control (ATC) team. Senior officials in Mumbai confirmed the development, but did not elaborate.
India’s airlines will welcome any savings they can make on fuel, which accounts for up to 40% of their operating costs. Sales tax on the fuel can be as much as 24%. The country’s three listed airlines may have made losses in the quarter ended June, owing to high jet fuel prices, excess capacity and fierce competition for passengers, according to analyst estimates.
The June quarter is considered the second best for domestic airlines, next to the October-December period, which is dominated by the holiday season. The companies have not reported their earnings yet.
16/07/11 P.R. Sanjai/Live Mint

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Categories: Airports Jul 2011, New Jul 2011