ATA Calls for Air Traffic Modernization
July 18, 2006
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The Air Transport Association (ATA) announced air traffic control (ATC) modernization is an essential part of making advances in industry-wide fuel conservation. ATC modernization also will help the industry combat rising fuel costs, ATA said.
The government should step up its efforts to transform the technologies and procedures used to manage air traffic, said ATA Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich. "Moving to a satellite-based system will enable aircraft to fly the most efficient path between airports," he said.
The benchmark price of crude oil surpassed $75 per barrel on July 6, after averaging $66.84 in the first half of 2006. With higher crude prices driving up the cost of refined products, the price of U.S. jet fuel averaged $1.98 per gallon in the first half of 2006 - a 29% year-over-year increase.
"There is only so much that the airlines can do internally, with respect to aircraft weight, fleet mix and operating procedures. The next quantum leap in conservation, aside from future aircraft technology, will come from smarter use of our airspace," Heimlich said. "A modernized system could save hundreds of millions of gallons of jet fuel, as well as billions of dollars annually."
ATA offers additional information and analysis on energy and fuel on its web site at http://www.airlines.org/econ/d.aspx?nid=9726. ATA airspace modernization proposals are available on the web site at www.smartskies.org/airspace_reform.html.
Source: Air Transport Association (ATA).