Airservices Australia is heading a second collaborative environmental air traffic management initiative - the Indian Ocean Strategic Partnership to Reduce Emissions (Inspire).
This is aimed at expanding "green" ATM processes and technology demonstrated in the Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (Aspire) partnership across the Indian Ocean.
The Aspire agreement was signed by Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand and the US Federal Aviation Administration in February 2008 and its goal is to accelerate the development and implementation of operational procedures to reduce aviation's environmental footprint. Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore have since joined the group.
Five gate-to-gate green demonstration flights - operated by Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines - have been conducted across the Pacific to demonstrate and measure the emission reductions and fuel savings achievable through the use of efficiency procedures, which resulted in 32,400kg (71,360lb) of fuel saved and a 102,000kg reduction in CO2 compared with normal operations. The partners are now working to implement the procedures for daily operations.
While Aspire is focused on the South Pacific, North Pacific and South-East Asia, Inspire is aimed at operations in three regions - the Arabian Gulf-Australia, Southern Africa-Australia/South-East Asia, and South-West Indian Ocean-Arabian Gulf.
A draft Inspire strategic plan has been formulated and initial partners Airports Authority of India (AAI), South Africa's Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority and Oman's Directorate General of Meteorology and Air Navigation are on board, says Airservices Australia.
By the end of July, Airservices hopes to have an Inspire "informal commitment signed off", leading to a formal signing and finalisation of the group's strategy and work priority, says Greg Houghton, senior advisor ATM planning.
The plan is for airline partners to conduct Inspire flights, similar to those operated under Aspire, with the possibility of simultaneous flights. Emirates and Etihad are "very enthusiastic" to be involved, with ATNS and AAI yet to confirm their airline partners, says Houghton. The group also aims to establish regional fuel and emissions metrics and reporting for the region.
The move comes as the Aspire team is set to expand, with existing members to consider a proposal for Aerothai to join at their annual meeting in Australia in early June.
Meanwhile, Aspire partners are developing a new concept for "green Aspire star-rated city-pair designations", whereby higher star ratings will be given to those city pairs that have more best practices, procedures and services available.
For example, a route with reduced vertical separation minima and 30nm (55km) longitudinal and 30nm lateral separation would have two stars, while one with those and dynamic airborne reroute procedures and user preferred routes would be an Aspire four-star route.
Airlines will be encouraged to document and publicise their use of Aspire star routes, providing further motivation to air navigation service providers to increase their availability and push for expansion of best-practice procedures in the region.
Source: Flight International
