Air New Zealand and key aviation partners will demonstrate the potential for the commercial aviation industry to reduce carbon emissions by millions of tonnes annually, with a test flight between Auckland and San Francisco.

The commercial Boeing 777 flight NZ8, re-named ASPIRE I, will take off from Auckland Airport on September 12.

It will operate under optimum flight planning conditions through the involvement of partners Airways New Zealand, the Federal Aviation Administration and Airservices Australia.

“By operating under these optimum planning conditions we will be able to demonstrate how many millions of tonnes of fuel and carbon emissions can be saved by airlines globally if they are permitted to utilise concepts and technologies in flight efficiency in all phases of commercial flight,” says Air New Zealand’s General Manager Airline Operations, Captain David Morgan.

“ASPIRE I further demonstrates Air New Zealand’s commitment to sustainable air travel, following on from our involvement in the tailored arrivals initiative into San Francisco, a number of fuel savings measures we’ve implemented and our bio-fuel aspirations.”

Airways New Zealand, the Federal Aviation Administration and Airservices Australia formed ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) last year, with the goal of making commercial air travel more environmentally sustainable. The group have a long history of working together, including introducing Future Air Navigation Services with airline, aircraft manufacturers and other industry partners.  This involves improvements to communications, navigation and surveillance, which have already resulted in fuel and emission reduction benefits being delivered.

The demonstration flight will have all practical operational restraints, including air traffic congestion control vectoring, air traffic fixed route structure, procedures, flow restrictions and airline restraints removed.

The demonstration flight will result in a clear and measured understanding of the potential savings achievable (based on current technology).
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