Blowing Too Much Money on Flying
by Shervin Saedinia
There’s an interesting article in the Telegraph about developing some strategies to use less fuel while you fly.
By placing the engines in idle thrust mode (they are not actually switched off), pilots reduce the amount of kerosene required by allowing the aircraft to descend smoothly, rather than the step-by-step approach—with which most readers will be familiar—and which, like a car continually changing gear, uses up more fuel.
Several other measures contribute to what SAS describes as its “green landings” programme. The energy efficient simulator flight began by taxiing to the runway on one engine rather than two, the aircraft wobbling like a supermarket trolley. Then we took off with almost no extended wing flaps and accelerated to the normal cruise speed faster than usual, and at a perceptibly higher angle—11 degrees compared to eight degrees—and immediately tucking away flaps and landing gear.
“With a higher take-off speed you get optimum performance,” explained Wiberg, who selected several further fuel-saving options: an alternate airport closer to the destination; a lower cruising speed; and a landing with a similarly minimal and slightly disconcerting use of flaps, allowing the friction of the runway to slow the aircraft, rather than lurching the engines into reverse thrust.
Because I love to travel and the cost of fuel is pretty much ridiculous, I like the idea of government agency actually doing something about saving fuel. It practically costs $1.88 per gallon of jet fuel, and last year we burned through 15.6 billion freaking gallons. So do I think this is a good idea? You bet your bottom dollar.
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