Scandinavian Airlines System has said that it had devised a new landing method which would help airlines save on fuel costs and carbon emissions.

The new technique would have the aircraft gliding into land on an optimum route guided by satellite and would save around 100kg of fuel on a twin-engine jet, equivalent to about 300kg of carbon dioxide released into the environment.

“We win on two levels,” said Thomas Midteide, spokesman for SAS Norway, the Norwegian airline run by the group.

“On one hand, we save fuel, on the other, we reduce our emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide).”

Carbon dioxide is considered as one of the major contributing causes to climate change.

Scientific body, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, say air traffic produces about 2 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions from humans and 13% from transport.

The newly devised landing method involves the aircraft’s engines placed in idle, allowing the plane to glide on a course mapped out by satellite technology, with the pilot taking over control just before touchdown.

The traditional manner in which a pilot lands an aircraft is to descend in stages over a long distance, which involves a constant shift in power, ultimately using up a large amount of fuel.

The fuel-saving technique has only been tested in a simulator, but the airline will attempt the new method in a Boeing 737 flight tonight in northern Norway.

If civil aviation authorities approve the technique, it airlines within the Scandinavian group could be using the technique on a full time basis.

The airline says that the method would be suited to quieter airports surrounded by mountains or hills.

Thanks to the Age for the above quotes.  For more information please visit their website.