SAS completes first commercial transatlantic flight with new ‘green’ approach
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has flown the first commercial transatlantic flight using a new, more evironmentally-friendly approach.
The Airbus A330 (SK904) journeyed from New York Newark to Stockholm Arlanda Airport and landed using a Continuous Descent Approach (CDA).
This type of approach is estimated to save around 150 kilos of aircraft fuel and 470 kilos of CO2.
“The approach was in fact very easy for us pilots,” said Sigmund Lockert, Airbus 340/330 fleet chief pilot, and first officer on the flight.
“The engines were running at idle power from our cruise altitude, until the final stage of the approach. The aircraft’s Flight Management System was automatically flying the whole approach routing and the passengers conceived the approach as nothing but smooth and quiet.”
Lars Sandahl Sørensen, SAS chief executive officer added: “Next year we will continue with this type of demonstrations, as we are truly committed to support research in this area and make all SAS international flights as environmentally-friendly as possible in the future.”
SAS said this test flight makes it the first airline in Europe to materialise its commitment to the emissions and noise reduction program AIRE (Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions).
AIRE is a joint initiative from the European Commission and the US Federal Aviation Administration.
SAS will continue to test green approaches on weekend transatlantic flights from Chicago and New York to Stockholm.
SAS has already demonstrated over 2,000 green approaches with a Boeing 737, with each landing saving approximately 150 kilos of fuel and 470 kilos of CO2.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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