Virgin to Tow Planes to Runway, page 1

posted on Dec, 4 2006 @ 12:55 AM

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I find this bizarre:

BBC

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is to conduct a trial using 13 of its planes which could cut aviation fuel use and slash carbon dioxide emissions.

By towing its Boeing 747-400 aircraft to take-off areas at London airports during December it said it could save up to two tonnes of fuel per flight.

Aircraft will be towed to Heathrow and Gatwick runways to cut fuel burning.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

It seems like this would be a drop in the bucket compared to how much fuel is spent flying. It does say 2 tons per flight might be saved...is that realistic? Also, wouldn't this cause even more confusion and delays at airports? I can imagine a plane flying guzzling gas circling waiting for Virgin's ecofriendly plane to get towed out of the way.

[edit on 12/4/2006 by djohnsto77]

sardion2000

posted on Dec, 4 2006 @ 01:10 AM

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The emphasis of CO2 reduction is purely PR. It's all about the money and a few tons of fuel is nothing to sneeze at considering that Jet Fuel costs 80 bucks a barrel.

As for the added confusion, I don't find that much of a problem. They are used to confusion and a little more added into the mix won't be noticeable.

carcharodon

posted on Dec, 4 2006 @ 10:30 AM

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Oh Sir branson... Seriously how much fuel would that save?

I bet if he had used twin engine aircraft instead if four he would have saved lots more...

St Udio

posted on Dec, 4 2006 @ 01:51 PM

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??

wonder why the VirginAirline decided on 13 airplanes
would be the trial #
...instead of, lets say, 30 days of all Virgins' flights out of Heathrow???

the PR thing is all this ammounts to..
considering that tow-motor vehicles will have to navigate back to the
service flight line or terminal areas,,,,which chould eventually require
tow-motor contollers side-by-side
with the air-traffic cntrollers
in those towers.

[edit on 4-12-2006 by St Udio]