ATW Daily News

United completes 777 ASPIRE flight

Monday November 17, 2008

United Airlines Friday completed an ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) flight from Sydney to San Francisco and said it saved 1,564 gal. of fuel and 32,656 lb. of carbon dioxide emissions. UA said that 11 fuel-saving initiatives were deployed "from gate to gate." The 777 flight, dubbed "ASPIRE United," followed in the footsteps of a similar flight operated by Air New Zealand in September (ATWOnline, Sept. 15). UA said it reduced fuel burn and emissions "by using up-to-the-minute fuel data, priority takeoff clearance, normally restricted airspace around Sydney's airport and new arrival procedures." The flight used a "tailored arrival"--a continuous descent at idle thrust--at SFO.

Rob Mead, Boeing's lead engineer for advanced ATM air/ground communications, told ATWOnline that the 777 executed "a picture perfect tailored arrival." He said the flight was similar to the ANZ flight but that UA's 777 had more advanced digital data link systems on its flight deck, enabling better communication with ATC. "The more FAA can use these systems [to communicate with aircraft], the more airlines will be encouraged to put them aboard," he said. ASPIRE is a partnership among FAA, Airservices Australia and Airways New Zealand.

Qantas' inaugural A380 flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles on Oct. 22 also was part of the ASPIRE program.

by Aaron Karp

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