Britain’s aviation industry has come together to reach an important environmental milestone, turning the normal Saturday evening service from Heathrow to Edinburgh into the UK’s first “perfect flight”.
Every factor within the journey – from pushback from the stand and taxiing to an optimised flight profile and continuous descent approach – was calibrated to achieve minimal emissions and delay.
Data from the 19:30 British Airways BA1462 flight will now be gathered and analysed, together with air traffic control and airport information, to understand the benefits. Initially, it is believed up to a quarter tonne of fuel could be saved, equating to nearly one tonne of CO2.
NATS and BA worked with BAA at Heathrow and Edinburgh to achieve this landmark flight, which was proposed by NATS’ Andy Sampson and Kel Kirkland. Kel said: “Unlocking each individual link in the chain on a single flight is not easy. Everyone has had a part to play.
“It will be some time before we can expect to see the “perfect flight” replicated day in, day out but we have demonstrated it is possible and we can work towards it in the long-term.”
BA Strategy and Environment Manager Dean Plumb said: “This highlights what can be achieved if every individual part of a flight is optimised. The data obtained should show that what seemed to be a normal, scheduled flight actually achieved something extraordinary.”
BAA Heathrow Airside Operations Director Colin Wood said: "This flight is a great example of what can be achieved when the aviation industry works together.
“The benefits should include reduced taxi time, lower carbon emissions, improved air and noise quality and lower airline fuel costs. We are always looking for ways to improve the environmental efficiency of ground operations at our airports and trials such as this are fundamental in delivering new procedures and technologies."
The Airbus A321 was able to fly without the everyday but necessary constraints imposed on air traffic because it was a one-off. It was also able to fly at its most fuel-efficient altitude for longer than usual.
The information from the flight will be shared with the UK industry coalition Sustainable Aviation to support its aim of reducing aircraft emissions to 2000 levels by 2050. NATS, BA and BAA are all members.
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
- NATS handled 2.2 million flights in 2009, covering the UK and eastern North Atlantic and carried more than 200 million passengers safely through some of the busiest and most complex airspace in the world.
- NATS provides air traffic control from its centres at Swanwick, Hampshire and Prestwick, Ayrshire.
- NATS also provides air traffic control services at 15 of the nation's major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow, together with air traffic services at Gibraltar Airport.
- British Airways is one of the world's leading global premium airlines and the UK’s largest international scheduled carrier. It flies its customers at convenient times to the best located airports across the world.
- BAA owns and operates six airports in the UK, including Heathrow and Edinburgh. Last year, 66 million passengers flew on 935,000 flights from BAA's UK airports.
- A world-first, Sustainable Aviation was launched in 2005 and brings together the main players from UK airlines, airports, engine and airframe manufacturers and ATM providers. It published Progress Reports in 2006 and 2009 and a CO2 Roadmap in 2008.
- SA is unique in the transport sector, established specifically to find industry solutions to the aviation sustainability challenge. There is no equivalent in road, rail or shipping. Solutions require the cooperation and collaboration of the industry working together. For more go to: sustainableaviation.org.uk
