Alaska Airlines 737-790 (30663/1386) N649AS smokes the mains at Long Beach (KLGB). (Photo by Michael Carter)Alaska Airlines began testing continuous descent approaches into Seattle/Tacoma with a 737-700 using RNP technology on June 16 during a noncommercial flight. The carrier pioneered RNP in the 1990s for challenging approaches in Alaska. The current effort, dubbed Greener Skies, is being done in cooperation with the Port of Seattle, Boeing and FAA and also will involve regional affiliate Horizon Air. Horizon's Q400 fleet is being equipped for RNP as well.
Alaska Air estimates the procedures will cut fuel consumption by 2.1 million gal. annually and reduce carbon emissions by 22,000 tonnes, "the equivalent of taking 4,100 cars off the road every year." It also will "reduce overflight noise exposure" for an estimated 750,000 people. "With FAA approval, we hope the procedures will be available to all carriers and gradually integrated into the Seattle air traffic system," said VP Flight Operations Gary Beck.
(Air Transport World - ATWOnline)
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