Boeing improves the landing technology of its planes

      PANO - The Boeing Company is renowned and world famous for its technologically advanced airplanes, but the company is also involved in developing and introducing new technology in other ways that advance aviation innovation.
One example involves improving how airplanes come in for a landing. This new approach method is called “Tailored Arrivals”. It not only improves an airline’s profitability, but also reduces harm to the environment.
The benefits offered by Tailored Arrivals include reductions in fuel burn rate and flight time for participating airlines, as well as reductions in CO2 emissions and a reduction in noise for surrounding communities near major airports.
“The Tailored Arrivals project is a major step forward, as it offers pilots the opportunity to fly the most fuel efficient and timely flight paths within the bounds of safety,” announced Paul Steele, Boeing's Director of Aviation Environment at the recent International Air Transport Association conference. “Tailored Arrivals are good for efficient flying, good for the environment, good for noise reduction as well as being good for the bottom line.”
Developed by Boeing and its partners in industry and government – the Tailored Arrivals concept reduced fuel use by 1.1 million pounds (523,862 kilograms) and CO2 emissions by 3.6 million pounds (1.6 million kilograms) over a year’s time at San Francisco’s International Airport according to data collected during the pilot project.
The data covered 1,000 flights landing at San Francisco’s International Airport by Boeing 777 and 747 aircraft flown by six different airlines.
On average, a Boeing 777 aircraft using the Tailored Arrivals method used 1,430 pounds (648.6 kilograms) less fuel per flight, while Boeing's 747 aircraft averaged 2,800 pounds (1,270 kilograms) less per flight. In instances when only highly efficient, partial Tailored Arrivals were possible, the 777s still averaged savings of 510 pounds (231.3 kilograms) of fuel per flight, while the 747s cut fuel use by 820 pounds (371.9 kilograms) per flight.
“These results verify that Tailored Arrivals are providing measurable benefits to airlines and the communities surrounding airports,” said Rob Mead, Advanced Air Traffic Management chief architect at Boeing’s Research & Technology Department.
The aim of Tailored Arrivals is to provide the most beneficial flight path available to arriving aircraft and airports, in both congested and un-congested traffic periods. Aircrews receive the most beneficial arrival path that is “tailored” to a specific flight through integration of all known aircraft performance, air traffic, airspace, meteorological, obstacle clearance and environmental constraints expected to be encountered during an arrival.
As the leader of Tailored Arrivals’ development, Boeing has been using its worldwide reach to bring together a range of international partners comprised of airlines, the aviation industry and air navigation service providers to ensure that Tailored Arrival solutions and procedures are globally inter-operable.