AeroTech Services, Inc., an aircraft modification and consulting company, announced today its patented wing modification will enable all commercial airlines, flying Boeing 737 Classics, to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 4 percent under typical flight conditions. The modification enhances the aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft's wings.
The breakthrough modification is patented, verified and approved by the FAA, and will reduce fuel burn by up to 4 percent under normal airline flight operations; and simultaneously reduces emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gasses without any changes to operations or flight procedures.
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 per hour. A conservative 3% target reduction from 5000 pounds equals 68 kilograms of fuel saved per hour which, in turn, equals 215 kg of CO2 emissions eliminated per hour. Accordingly, commercial aircraft averaging 3000 hours each per year (the industry average) would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 645 tonnes per aircraft, per year.
The low cost modification kit has a rapid return on investment. The modification only takes approximately 300 man hours to install; which means it can be done during regular maintenance visits. The average ROI is 12-15 months under typical airline operations.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, an agency of the United Nations) have both made the issue of reducing airline emissions a major international initiative, in line with the Kyoto Protocol and the European Union's position on environmental issues.
The airlines have tried addressing these issues with other tactics such as reducing weight on the aircraft by modifying food service carts, removing pillows and blankets, carrying less water and other less effective means. Sir Richard Branson has recently gone so far as to say he would like to tow Virgin's aircraft from the gate to the runway to eliminate the fuel burn taxiing. AeroTech submitted the modification to the Virgin Earth Challenge as an effective means by which commercial airline operators all over the world can immediately and effectively begin reducing emissions and save significant amounts of costs from ever increasing jet fuel prices. But there appears to be a more efficient answer here, with the AeroTech Services modification. The kits are relatively easy to install with no permanent aircraft changes required, and approved and verified by major civil aviation authorities (FAA, EASA, Transport Canada, and China's CAAC) to begin reducing emissions and saving fuel costs immediately.
According to an AeroTech Company spokesperson, "The airlines would be remiss not to look at this modification as a serious and immediate answer to several major issues they are facing today; including record high fuel costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and public awareness. This modification addresses all three conditions at once!"
AeroTech Services, Inc., a Reno, Nevada-based company, holds the US Patent No. 6,598,834 on the wing modification for all aircraft. The company markets and sells the modification worldwide to commercial airline operators. The website is www.aerotechservices737.com