Green Flight Times

SEATTLE – Aviation Partners announced that as of 2:56 pm PST on Sunday, January 15, 2012 its blended winglets have saved the worlds commercial and business aircraft operators an estimated three billion gallons of jet fuel. This represents a global reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 32.2 million tonnes. Aviation Partners’ winglets are now flying on more than 5,000 individual airplanes, and more than 20 aircraft types worldwide. Aside from corporate jet winglets, the company has products certified and in service on Boeing 737-300, -500, -700, -800 and -900, 757-200 and300 and 767-300ER/F series aircraft. API expects the amount of fuel saved to grow exponentially to more than seven billion gallons in the next 4-5 years. Joe Clark, CEO of API and Chairman of APB, said, “We are proud to be the world leader in the field of fuel savings for the airlines and private aviation. We look forward to adapting our new technology to both existing airplanes and new production designs in the near future”. Over three billion gallons of fuel saved worldwide GENEVA – Over 56 million jobs worldwide and $2.2 trillion in GDP are supported by aviation, according to a new report released at the Aviation & Environment Summit in Geneva. The report, Aviation: benefits beyond borders, was produced by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) and Oxford Economics. It outlines an industry that plays a larger role in the global economy than many would expect. “It’s a fascinating look at the scope of the aviation industry and our role in the world,” says Paul Steele, Executive Director of ATAG, “when you realise that aviation, if it were a country, would be the 19th largest economy in the world, supporting 56.6 million jobs and over two trillion dollars in economic impact, you really see the scale of air transport. “Of course, aviation’s economic benefits spread far beyond the monetary aspects outlined here. When you take into account the further benefits gained through the speed and reliability of air travel, the businesses that exist because air freight makes them possible and the intrinsic value to the economy of improved connectivity, the economic impact would be several times larger. “While the numbers relating to passengers are impressive enough, with nearly 2.7 billion passengers carried in 2010, the figures for air freight emphasise the importance of this mode of transporting valuable and perishable goods. The $5.3 trillion worth of freight carried by air transport in 2010 represents some 35% of the value of global trade, despite it representing 0.5% of the volume. Air transport is invaluable for the shipment of lightweight but valuable goods.” Steele adds, “The report also expands the economic data to include a view of aviation’s social benefits and environmental progress. Aviation is an invaluable part of the lives of modern people and will prove even more so as emerging economies continue to develop. It can also provide more immediate and vital links to remote communities, many island states and important disaster relief. “With the sustainable development of economies and the creation of jobs comes the responsibility to carefully manage the resources we are using and the impact that we have on the world. All parts of the commercial aviation industry are engaged in ways we can reduce environmental impact – from new technology and operational efficiencies to infrastructure development. The amount of work occurring across the industry is an impressive sign of our commitment to sustainable development.”