UNIT 20? Practice 4

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The Perfect Flight

A

　　Let's go to Sydney this weekend! Or maybe have a week in Tonga? In the 21st century, people love flying and take it for granted for both business and leisure. The prospect of flights both increasing in price and radically reducing in number due to fuel costs, carbon emissions and worries about global warming is horrifying for those addicted to travel. Airlines are struggling in the recent tricky financial climate, with the failure of a number of airlines. This means there is huge pressure to develop environmentally-efficient flights and retain the customer flow that is essential to maintain profitability.

B

　　The sudden increase in fuel costs has had a very negative effect on airline business. Fuel purchases cost millions of dollars per day for the bigger airlines, and the ability of an airline to manage its fuel use now plays a significant role in determining its viability. In addition, airlines are thought to contribute approximately three per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. Many of today's travellers are concerned about the ‘carbon footprint’ of their flights, and this has an effect on passenger numbers. Over the year to mid-2008, 26 airlines in Europe and the United States went bankrupt, with at least another 20 airlines looking shaky. Airlines all over the world are therefore concentrating on ways to reduce their fuel consumption and emissions through technological advances and new patterns of flying.

C

　　With this in mind, airlines are testing ‘tailored flights’. This means using technology and controlled conditions at the airports at each end to test flight and fuel efficiency. Some US airlines have already tried full and partial tailored flights in the US, and similar flights are also being done across the Atlantic. They are seen as being the way ahead for the airline industry, both in terms of reduced fuel costs and an improved emissions record.

D

　　The first ‘tailored flight’ across the Pacific, an Air New Zealand one from Auckland to San Francisco in September 2008, was part of a programme called ASPIRE, Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions. This programme monitors every aspect of the flight, including the time spent on the ground with engines running as well as the rate of climb, the route taken and a smooth glide into land (rather than using power thrusts of the engine in the conventional way). Overall, the flight used four per cent less fuel (a saving of 4,600 litres) than normal on the route, and the emissions of carbon dioxide were calculated to be 281 instead of the usual 290 tonnes. Overall the flight landed five minutes early.

E

　　It was termed a ‘perfect flight’ as it used optimal flying conditions, plus relying on the cooperation of aviation and airport authorities in NZ, Australia and the USA. This cooperation was essential to minimise fuel wastage caused by delays in takeoff and landing. The plane was only fuelled just before departure, which meant there was an accurate measure of the weight of the plane, once all passengers and their luggage were loaded, saving about 240 litres, plus additional savings resulting from reducing the weight of fuel on board. During loading, the plane used local on-ground electricity to power its lights and air conditioning rather than running its back-up engine. This was said to save 210 litres of fuel.

F

　　While in flight, updated weather reports were sent electronically to on-board computers at regular intervals, meaning that the pilots could avoid bad weather or head winds by changing their flight paths. Three deviations were made during the flight, one of which saved close to 350kgs of fuel and two minutes of flying time. These were possible because air traffic control authorities had agreed to a flexible use of air space over the Pacific. The combination of the size of the Pacific plus the relatively low number of flights on any particular day made this possible. In the crowded air space of Europe, with military as well as commercial flights, achieving this flexibility would probably be more difficult. The landing was also carefully controlled: a smooth continuous descent saved about 700 litres of fuel, as well as being slightly quicker.

G

　　Potential annual fuel savings of 37 million litres of fuel are estimated, if ‘tailored flights’ are extended to cover 156 flights a week over the Pacific; this would amount to CO2 savings of over 100,000 tonnes. Combined with existing plans to reduce excess weight in planes (a kilogram of plane weight adds about $450 to the fuel bill annually) and a commitment to buy more fuel-efficient planes, these savings might be enough to enable commercial airlines to continue to operate profitably. In an era where air travel is not only essential for the conduct of global business but also an integral part of tourism and recreation for ordinary people, this scheme may prove the perfect solution.

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Note Completion

　　Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the reading passage for each answer.

　　Auckland ? Airport

　　● ? refueled just before departure-saved 33. ______

　　● ? used local power sources until departure-saved 34. ______

　　Take ? off / rate of climb

　　● ? savings not specified

　　During ? flight

　　● ? 35. ______ changes of route

　　● ? one of these saved 350 kgs of fuel / 2 minutes

　　Coming in to land at San ? Francisco airport

　　● ? no delays due to other planes

　　● ? smooth glide into landing-saved 36. ______

　　Overall ? Savings

　　● ? Flying time???????????? saved 37. ? ______

　　● ? Fuel?????????????????? saved 4% (= 38. ? ______)

　　● ? Carbon emissions??????? saved 39. ? ______ tonnes

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