Joint airport/airline initiative reduces fuel consumption
Joint airport/airline initiative reduces fuel
consumption, costs and carbon footprints whilst improving
health and safety
On Monday 11th February, Auckland Airport, working in close co-operation with Air New Zealand, introduced a trial of a new and improved ground power unit (GPU).
A GPU enables an aircraft, whilst on the gate, to plug in and power itself using electricity, instead of using its auxiliary power unit that would burn jet fuel.
GPUs have been in place for some time at Auckland, but utilisation rates have been low due to ground handling staff having to drag heavy cables to the aircraft.
The solution is a $0.25M device, called a “crocodile”, which improves the manoeuvrability of the long cables and minimizes the risk of injury.
The six to eight week trial will monitor all aspects of the installation: health and safety, energy use and fuel savings and, if successful, the technology will be rolled out across all international gates. Increased utilisation will lead to significant reductions in fuel burn and the carbon footprint of all airlines coming to Auckland Airport.
“It is Air New Zealand’s aim to become the world’s most environmentally sustainable airline and we are pleased to be taking the lead, along with Auckland Airport, on this trial which will allow our aircraft to taxi on to gate with their auxiliary power units switched off reducing both CO2 emissions and noise,” says Air New Zealand Chief Flight Operations and Safety Officer David Morgan.
The
initiative also reflects Auckland Airport’s approach to
sustainable business practice. Martin Fryer, Auckland
Airports Sustainability and Environmental Manager said
“Auckland Airport recently reviewed its sustainability
plan and realised that many targets can only be achieved
through cooperation with like-minded businesses. This
project is a superb example of how we can achieve our
long-term goals of reducing energy, water and waste per
passenger by 20% by 2020. It can be done through successful
partnerships with key customers, key suppliers and the wider
airport
community.”
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