Qantas to commence flight trials in Melbourne
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MELBOURNE, 3 DECEMBER 2009: Qantas’ B737-800 Melbourne services are now more environmentally efficient as a result of the deployment of Required Navigational Performance (RNP) technology on these services, from today.
Qantas is a pioneer of the technology that has delivered proven environmental benefits since the airline first began trialling RNP procedures in 2004. Melbourne is the 16th Australian port where Qantas has trialled RNP procedures, and joins other major airports such as Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney, as well as Queenstown, New Zealand, as ports where Qantas has deployed this technology.
Qantas Group Executive Government and Corporate Affairs, David Epstein, said the airline’s investment in RNP was a significant part of its commitment to community and environmental sustainability.
“RNP utilizes Global Position System technology that allows pilots to optimize flight approach and departure tracks. This results in shorter flight paths which reduces impact on the community as we don’t have aircraft in the air as long, and of course, reduces Qantas’ carbon footprint by limiting the amount of fuel emissions we are generating,” he said.
“This technology is also a demonstration of Qantas’ long-standing commitment to be a leader in the investment of safety technology. RNP greatly improves the ability of pilots to approach and depart from ports that, without this technology, are difficult to navigate in poor weather.
“This also ensures that we minimize the amount of weather related delays. It is often the case that our RNP equipped B737-800 aircraft can land in bad weather, where other aircraft can’t.”
Mr Epstein added that Qantas had recently joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group which is a bipartisan industry group established to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel. Qantas’ participation in the group, along with pioneering Required Navigational Performance, is part of the airline’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
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