Apr 28 2008
AeroTech Services, Inc., an aircraft modification and consulting company, announced today that its patented wing modification enables all commercial airlines flying Boeing 737 Classics to reduce fuel consumption by up to 4%, with the only wing modification that can be adjusted for each airline's specific operations, to optimize performance improvement.
The breakthrough modification is verified and approved by the FAA to reduce fuel burn by up to 4% under normal airline flight operations, and simultaneously reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gasses, without any changes to operations or flight procedures. And, unlike any other modification, AeroTech's device has multiple flat droop settings to optimize results for each carrier's individual operating needs. "There has been some confusion recently in the commercial aviation marketplace concerning this modification," states James Nettle, AeroTech Director, "This modification became available just last Fall (2007). It is uniquely more advanced than other previously distributed modifications, which utilized a system with only one, fixed aft flap position." Also, the modification is more cost effective and only takes approximately 300 man hours to install, which means it can be done during regular maintenance visits.
Boeing 737-200, -300, -400 and -500 models (The Classics) are the largest fleet of commercially used aircraft in the world, with over 2600 currently in use. The B737 Classic fleet average fuel burn is 5000 pounds, or 746 gallons of Jet-A fuel per hour.
Recent data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website indicates the average cost per gallon of fuel to commercial airlines is over $3.12 per gallon, worldwide. A conservative target of only a 3% reduction would equal 22 gallons of fuel saved per hour. The amount of fuel saved is equivalent to 215 kg. of CO2 emissions, which are also eliminated. Accordingly, a commercial aircraft averaging 3000 hours per year (the industry average) would save $205,920.00 (USD) and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 645,000 kg. per aircraft, per year.
The AeroTech modification is approved and verified by major civil aviation authorities (FAA, EASA, Transport Canada, and China's CAAC) all over the world. According to Jeffrey Donnelley, an AeroTech Company spokesperson, "The airlines are seriously looking at this modification as an immediate answer to several major issues they are facing today, including record high fuel costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and public opinion.