p25 Air Nov13 10/11/09 12:46 Page 25
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit ttglive.com/air
Scandinavian carrier SAS is encouraging pilots to adopt greener flying techniques to save fuel and
money, as it battles to keep its costs down and generate new revenue sources. Chris Gray reports
Eco techniques
could save fuel
AIRLINES could save millions of pounds and cut
their fuel consumption by up to 6% a year if pi-
lots adopted some simple “eco-pilot” techniques.
Stockholm-based Oxford Aviation Academy
(OAA), which grew out of SAS’s training school,
says its Eco Pilot Training programme could save
a small European charter operator ¤80m a year.
Although the programme has just been
launched, OAA is already in talks with four
airlines – including a UK no-frills carrier – about
joining the programme.
It aims to change the way pilots fly by teaching
them to think about how to save fuel at every
stage of the journey and providing training in
simulators at its Stockholm headquarters.
Training director Per de la Motte said the
programme challenged pilots’ habits and
“myths” about essential flying techniques. Most SAS may ask TMCs
were sceptical about what could be achieved, but
had their preconceptions shattered when they
tried out the techniques on a simulator, he said.
TTG joined former SAS and MyTravel pilot to block-buy seats
Peter Frogtmann to test the techniques on a
simulated A320 flight between Gothenburg and SCANDINAVIAN airline SAS may start asking flying techniques. He said the airline made
Copenhagen. He flew two journeys on the route, business travel agencies to take allocations of sure it offered the trade – which provides 75% of
assuming calm weather each time. He used con- seats in the same way as tour operators. its sales – the same inventory and prices on GDS
ventional flying techniques on the first, but on This is a long-term option being considered by systems as it sold direct on its website.
the second used methods such as taxiing using the Stockholm-based airline, which reported a But Hylander said the proportion of travellers
one rather than two engines, reducing thrust at £138m loss for the first nine months of the year. booking direct continued to grow, so the airline
a lower altitude, and descending in a continuous Christian Hylander, SAS international area had to look at new ways of generating revenue
straight line. The first flight used 1,740kg of fuel sales and distribution vice-president, said it was from the trade other than incentives through
and the second 1,420kg – an 18% saving. one option under consideration in response to agreements with travel management companies.
De la Motte said it was impossible to repeat dramatic falls in business-class traffic. These could include asking TMCs to take on
such a big saving outside a simulator, but cuts of He was speaking to TTG in Stockholm as SAS some of the commercial risk of flights by buying
up to 6% were achievable. unveiled its results and demonstrated green blocks of seats in advance and then selling them
to customers at a higher price.
SAS has dropped its business-class cabin on
How to be an eco-pilot
some flights in Scandinavia and Hylander said this
was also an option for UK routes – but premium
■ Use one rather than two engines to taxi on ■ Ask air traffic control for a direct route customers would still have a premium service.
take-off and landing ■ Fly more slowly SAS wants to become known as Europe’s most
■ Reduce thrust at lower altitude on take-off ■ Descend in a straight rather than jagged line environmentally conscious airline, and Hylander
■ Lower flap settings ■ Drop landing gear later said if that was achieved, it could be
commercialised by charging higher fares.
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