Airport investigates gliding to save fuel
Reports from New Zealand say that Auckland International Airport is taking part in an international trial investigating the potential fuel savings of a glide descent approach.
During a glide descent, also known as continuous or uninterrupted descent, aircraft approach the airport with engines idling.
Current air traffic control procedures often require aircraft to speed up or slow down to allow planes to keep their distance from each other or to make best use of the runway, as aircraft converge on an airport.
Air New Zealand and Qantas Boeing 747 planes taking part in the trial will not be given any speed control or level restrictions as they come into land while air traffic control will manage other aircraft to allow this to happen.
Most of the aircraft in the landing trial will be early morning international flights.
The trial will allow the airport and the airlines to find out if fuel savings can be made by this method.
There are no safety issues relating to the trial and passengers will not notice any difference except landings may be smoother and more comfortable than usual.
The trial began in mid-April and will continue until September.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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