Alaska tries RNP

Alaska said it’s testing new flight procedures at Sea-Tac that could save it millions of gallons of fuel each year and provide quieter landings. Alaska is testing landing procedures using a satellite guidance technology called required navigation performance, or RNP. According to the airline the technology allows planes to “descend more efficiently and reduce aircraft fuel consumption, emissions and noise in the Puget Sound region.”

Alaska hopes to obtain FAA approval for the system, which would also be used by sister airline Horizon Air, by next year. Alaska says the system could cut its fuel consumption by 2.1m gallons/year, reduce carbon emissions by 22,000mt and reduce landing noise created by its planes. Really a win-win you might say.

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