Alaska Airlines Is First Carrier to Use RNP Precision Approach Technology at Portland International Airport
16 Maggio 2006 - 1:06AM
PR Newswire (US)
Technology Will Shorten Flight Times and Reduce Fuel Consumption
PORTLAND, Ore., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines
announced today it is the first air carrier to use Required
Navigation Performance (RNP) precision approach technology to land
aircraft at Portland International Airport. By using these more
direct RNP-guided approaches, Alaska Airlines will shorten flight
times for Portland-bound flights and reduce fuel consumption. RNP
technology provides computer-plotted landing paths with pinpoint
accuracy by using a combination of onboard navigation technology
and the Global Positioning System satellite network. It allows
aircraft to fly safer, more reliable landings, and reduces reliance
on ground-based navigation aids. "Ten years after we pioneered the
use of RNP technology at rural Alaskan airports, we're proud to
bring it to Portland along with a growing number of other
metropolitan airports," said Ben Forrest, Alaska's vice president
of flight operations. "This innovative technology brings benefits
to passengers and the airline alike, by shortening flight times,
providing additional flight safeguards and reducing the consumption
of fuel." Alaska pioneered the use of RNP technology during the
mid-1990s to help aircraft land at some of the world's most remote
and geographically challenging airports in the state of Alaska.
Since 1996, the airline has introduced RNP procedures at airports
throughout the state of Alaska as well as in Washington, D.C.; San
Francisco and Palm Springs, Calif. Recognizing the safety and
environmental advantages of RNP, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) announced an initiative in 2005 to make the
procedures available to a broader group of qualified airlines at
airports across the country. In September 2005, Alaska Airlines
became the first U.S. carrier to fly the FAA's inaugural public RNP
approach procedure into Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
At Portland International Airport, RNP-guided approaches save about
two minutes and 28 gallons of fuel per arrival. Alaska Airlines
began flying RNP-guided landings March 8 to both of Portland
International Airport's two runways. Alaska's sister carrier,
Horizon Air, plans to implement RNP-guided approaches in Portland
in the near future. Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon
Air, together serve 88 cities through an expansive network
throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For
reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information,
visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air newsroom at
http://newsroom.alaskaair.com/. DATASOURCE: Alaska Airlines
CONTACT: Amanda Tobin, +1-206-392-5134, or Caroline Boren,
+1-206-392-5799, both of Alaska Airlines Web site:
http://www.alaskaair.com/
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