US Airways - April 2013 - (Page 12)

embark Making It Happen Behind the Scenes of Your Flight Fuel Economy US Airways is using less fuel, thanks to new initiatives. By Tara Titcombe Thanks to the efforts of employees and a Corporate Fuel Conservation Team, US Airways continues to find new and efficient ways to conserve fuel. ★ Spatial Reasoning After studying the airspace surrounding its major airports, US Airways collaborated with other airlines and the FAA to “redesign” the space around Phoenix and Washington, DC. The result: Reconfigured flight patterns near those airports reduce congestion, which translates to fewer delays — and less fuel use. APUsage The auxiliary power unit (APU), located near the plane’s tail, is a small turbine engine that provides power to the cabin when the main engines aren’t on and helps to start the main engines. Though highly important, APUs can burn significant amounts of fuel. Thanks to the team’s efforts, planes parked at gates are now hooked up to ground power and air conditioning units that require less energy than APUs — and less fuel. carefully calculated by trip distance, plane weight, and potential delays. After studying the fuel loads on flights leaving from Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, US Airways discovered that many aircraft were being over-fueled — sometimes by more than 300 pounds. Newly revised fueling procedures have resulted in more accurate fueling, which in turn has reduced the cost of carrying extra fuel. Taxi for One In the Future Less Is More The amount of fuel required for each flight is 12 april 2013 usairwaysmag.com The airline continues to look for new ways to conserve fuel. “US Airways takes an active role in monitoring and researching new fuel-savings technology,” says Marc Gross, managing director of the operations control center. “Our approach to fuel conservation isn’t just about cost savings. It’s also about being good stewards of the environment.” illustration by john pirman Most aircraft now taxi to and from gates using only one engine, as long as the pilot determines that it’s safe to do so. Single-engine taxis on the ground can reduce fuel burn by about 40 percent. http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - April 2013

US Airways - April 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Best Ballpark Food
Hub Crawl: San Francisco International Airport
Wine & Dine: 20 Wines Under $20
Wine & Dine: True Brew: Puerto Rico Coffee
Great Tastes: Luna Red
Great Escapes: Couples Resorts
Adventure: Cape Ann, Massachusetts
Great Escapes: Fairmont San Francisco Hotel
Adventure: High Springs, Florida
Gear Up: Golf
Special Section: Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Travel Feature: Grazing in Venice, Italy
US Airways Feature: 50+ Year Employees
No Strings Attached: Brad Paisley
The Rise of Hotel Restaurants
Phoenix Flair
Celebrate New Orleans: Art. Culture. Music.
Great Dates
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - April 2013