IATA is pushing Latin American countries to accelerate the introduction of area navigation (RNAV) routes, with a particular focus on Uruguay and Venezuela.
IATA chief Giovanni Bisignani says the association "is targeting 19 new RNAV routes" in Latin America for 2010. He says nine RNAV routes were introduced in the region last year, resulting in savings of nearly 30,000t of carbon dioxide (CO2) and $8.5 million.
"But not everything is moving quickly," Bisignani told the IATA Wings of Change conference this morning in Santiago, Chile. "Venezuela has potential to generate $750,000 in fuel savings by shortening one route through the country by 26 miles (42km) and four minutes, but are moving far too slowly.
"We also have problems with countries that don't work together. The route between Montevideo and Buenos Aires wastes 4,000t of CO2 because the countries have not reached an RNAV agreement. Argentina is willing but there is no urgency in Uruguay and incredibly unions are stopping progress. I raised this with President Mujica of Uruguay last week for an urgent resolution. Our efforts should be on the radar screens of political leaders."
IATA is also pushing for the introduction of more performance based navigation (PBN) procedures in Latin America. Bisignani says new PBN procedures were introduced last year at nine airports in the region, resulting in 50,000t of CO2 savings and $13 million in fuel cost savings. For 2010, IATA is targeting PBN procedures at 16 additional Latin American airports.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news