News: LAX Implements Continuous Descent Approaches For Westbound Arrivals
Posted by Matthew Justice on Feb 21, 2008
I have been intrigued by the concept of Continuous Descent Approaches (CDA) for awhile. By definition a CDA is a flight procedure where the vertical profile of an arrival has been optimized so that it can be flown with engines "idle" from a high altitude (potentially from cruise) until touch down on the runway.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has recently established some procedures to allow airplanes to use a CDA for westbound arrivals. These procedures will save fuel, reduce noise, make passengers more comfortable and help reduce emissions.
Here are 3 things that I like about the concept of CDAs ...
- Technology - The technology to allow an airplane to reduce power and descend to the airport at a constant rate, is impressive. Wind, air speed, traffic, distance and altitude all have to be considered to give an accurate decent profile.
- Fuel - The amount of fuel saved is also impressive. During a test with UPS using CDA they found a “34 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions below 3,000 feet, and a 30 percent reduction in aircraft noise within 15 miles of the airport. UPS aircraft flying this approach also save between 250 and 465 pounds of fuel per flight.”
- Comfort - we have all been on a flight where there was a passenger with a cold or allergies during the decent the pressure in their inner-ear was not being released so they were, in what appeared to be mortal pain. With a CDA the pressure change will be more gradual so the passenger would have more time to adjust to pressure changes. Plus the reduction in noise will also help passengers relax.
What do you think?
Source Non-Mobile: http://crankyflier.com/2008/02/14/lax-continuous-descent/
Tags: Airplanes, Airports, Flying, Green
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