[Avionics Today 10-15-2014] Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), Area Navigation (RNAV) and other technology initiatives are helping to significantly reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, according to NAV Canada’s annual Collaborative Initiatives for Emissions Reduction (CIFER) report.
The report highlights new and emerging technologies and Air Traffic Management (ATM) procedures and measures their current and projected impact on the environment as well as jet fuel savings for operators. Among the new initiatives is the Gander Oceanic Flight Level Initiative (GOFLI), where controllers were able to significantly increase the number of climbs in Atlantic airspace, reducing the hourly fuel burn by 2 percent for the average Boeing 767.
For 2013, the CIFER report shows savings of $508 million in fuel costs and a reduction of just under 1.3 million tons of GHG emissions. NAV Canada estimates the reduction in GHG emissions will be 21 million tons between 1997, when the program began, and 2020 — resulting in a forecasted $7.4 billion in fuel savings for operators flying in Canadian airspace.