Ejector
8th Mar 2007, 04:04
American operates more than 2,000 flights a day. A gallon of jet fuel weighs 6.7 pounds.
Since the airline no longer offers hot meals in its coach sections, it is removing the rear galley, or kitchen, including refrigerators and ovens. Replacing the rear galleys with six seats, the airline gains $34 million a year in revenue, Booth said.
The galley removal process, which has nearly been completed on American's 300 MD80 aircraft, is undertaken at American's Tulsa Maintenance & Engineering Center during periodic maintenance visits.
Other fuel-saving programs implemented in Tulsa include:
Replacement of high-drag tail cones with low-drag tail cones on older MD80s; 27 aircraft have been completed, 58 aircraft remain to be completed. Annual savings: $2.4 million.
Installation of fuel-saving winglets on 80 Boeing 737s and 124 Boeing 757s. The 737s will be completed by June, the 757s by August 2008, officials said. Annual savings: More than $10 million.
Installing electronic flight information systems or glass cockpit instrumentation in place of analog systems. The electronic systems enable aircraft to fly more direct routes to destination airports. Seventy-five aircraft have been completed for annual savings of $12.5 million.
Implementation of an engine water wash program that cleans compressor and turbine blades, which permits the engine to operate more efficiently. Annual savings: $3.8 million.
Removing seat phones, wiring and control boxes from 34 Airbus A300 aircraft for a weight savings of 80 pounds per aircraft. Annual savings: $1 million.
Removal of life vests on 50 aircraft that don't fly over water. Annual savings: $250,000.
Today, American pilots routinely taxi to and from boarding gates with one engine, instead of the two engines used in previous years.
In 2006, single-engine taxiing saved American $4 million.
"We burn 6 percent of our total fuel burn a year on the ground," Booth said. "Potentially, we could save $8 million a year."
In 2006, American's fuel consumption was 2.88 billion gallons, down 2.3 percent from a year earlier.
Since the airline no longer offers hot meals in its coach sections, it is removing the rear galley, or kitchen, including refrigerators and ovens. Replacing the rear galleys with six seats, the airline gains $34 million a year in revenue, Booth said.
The galley removal process, which has nearly been completed on American's 300 MD80 aircraft, is undertaken at American's Tulsa Maintenance & Engineering Center during periodic maintenance visits.
Other fuel-saving programs implemented in Tulsa include:
Replacement of high-drag tail cones with low-drag tail cones on older MD80s; 27 aircraft have been completed, 58 aircraft remain to be completed. Annual savings: $2.4 million.
Installation of fuel-saving winglets on 80 Boeing 737s and 124 Boeing 757s. The 737s will be completed by June, the 757s by August 2008, officials said. Annual savings: More than $10 million.
Installing electronic flight information systems or glass cockpit instrumentation in place of analog systems. The electronic systems enable aircraft to fly more direct routes to destination airports. Seventy-five aircraft have been completed for annual savings of $12.5 million.
Implementation of an engine water wash program that cleans compressor and turbine blades, which permits the engine to operate more efficiently. Annual savings: $3.8 million.
Removing seat phones, wiring and control boxes from 34 Airbus A300 aircraft for a weight savings of 80 pounds per aircraft. Annual savings: $1 million.
Removal of life vests on 50 aircraft that don't fly over water. Annual savings: $250,000.
Today, American pilots routinely taxi to and from boarding gates with one engine, instead of the two engines used in previous years.
In 2006, single-engine taxiing saved American $4 million.
"We burn 6 percent of our total fuel burn a year on the ground," Booth said. "Potentially, we could save $8 million a year."
In 2006, American's fuel consumption was 2.88 billion gallons, down 2.3 percent from a year earlier.