CAAS, SIA make history with first multi-sector green flight

The flight marks CAAS' entry to the Aspire programme
Nisha Ramchandani, Business Times 3 Feb 10;

THE Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have successfully pulled off the world's first multi-sector demonstration green flight, which resulted in fuel savings of about 6 per cent and reduced carbon emissions of over 33 tonnes.

The Boeing 747-400, which departed Los Angeles on Jan 31, arrived in Singapore via Tokyo half an hour earlier than expected early yesterday morning.

The flight marked CAAS' entry to the Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (Aspire) programme on Monday, a partnership of air navigation service providers (ANSP) which aims to promote best practices to reduce aviation emissions globally.

'The route an aircraft takes, the altitude at which it flies and the weather it encounters all affect the amount of fuel it burns and the carbon dioxide emitted,' said SIA's senior vice- president of flight operations, Gerard Yeap.

On top of its usual engine and airframe maintenance programmes, SIA put the aircraft through a special engine wash programme to optimise fuel efficiency and polished the airframe to reduce drag.

At the same time, ground electrical supply was used to power the aircraft when it was on the ground as opposed to the plane's auxiliary power unit.

However, what ultimately contributed to the greatest fuel savings was using a user preferred route through a flight planning system during the flight, whereby the pilot could alter the flight path based on wind patterns to reduce flight time.

ANSP partners in the US and Japan also worked together with CAAS to ensure that the aircraft could operate in ideal air traffic conditions, from departure to cruising to arrival.

This included priority clearance for departure as well as allowing the aircraft an uninterrupted descent - versus the conventional step-descent method - which results in less fuel burn.

'Green' SQ flight saves 5% fuel
Straits Times 3 Feb 10;

BETTER air traffic management and in-flight procedures helped Singapore Airlines save 10 tonnes of fuel, or about 5 per cent of its total fuel usage, on a flight from Los Angeles on Sunday.

The Boeing 747-400 which flew from Los Angeles to Singapore, with a stopover in Narita, also reduced its carbon emissions by more than 30 tonnes and shaved 30 minutes off the travel time.

This environmentally friendly flight was part of the Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (Aspire) of which the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is the newest member.

Members of the partnership pledge to adopt and promote best practices in air travel that have proven to be successful in reducing greenhouse gases. Other member partners have already carried out 'green' flights around the world to test different practices.

Sunday's flight operated by SIA and CAAS was the fifth 'green' flight of the Aspire series.

Best in-flight practices used this time to reduce fuel usage included a special engine wash for the aircraft's four engines, using recycled water to remove dirt that adds weight to the aircraft, and polishing the airframe to minimise drag.

But the bulk of its fuel savings came from taking the User Preferred Route generated by a modern flight planning system developed by Lufthansa Systems, said SIA. The aircraft followed a more dynamic route based on weather conditions, aircraft make and performance, instead of an existing pre-determined route.

CAAS also arranged for the aircraft to get priority clearance from air traffic control for taxiing and departure. It was also assigned the nearest bay to the runway.

Asked if such allowances were feasible for all flights, SIA's senior vice- president of flight operations, Captain Gerard Yeap, said: 'Look at the flight as an aspiration of what we all would like to achieve. The takeaway for all of us is: What aspects today can you put into use? It's a long road and we are getting there.'

The director of CAAS' air traffic services, Mr Ng Tee Chiou, said: 'As Iata (International Air Transport Association) has said before, the aim is to save one minute on each flight.

'If you all do that, just aim for that humble one minute; cumulatively, it means big bucks for the airlines.'

MARIA ALMENOAR