Southwest Airlines commits to fleetwide RNP capability
Calling it a "tipping point for performance-based navigation," US FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said at a briefing at Washington National Airport yesterday that Southwest Airlines informed the agency that it will equip its entire fleet for RNP, including retrofitting its 737 Classics.
The airline confirmed the plan, which Air Transport Assn. President and CEO James May said was an indication that "the entire industry is migrating as rapidly as possible to NextGen."
A Southwest spokesperson told ATWOnline that the carrier "has made the decision to move forward internally, but all the specifics are not in place. We've been researching the capabilities for more than a year, the possibilities and efficiencies that we would gain and the benefits from our fleet being RNP-capable." The airline will start with its 737-700s, which come RNP-ready but would require "some switches to be flipped" before flying for SWA. There is no timetable on the retrofit, the spokesperson revealed, saying, "we don't have a clear plan of how we're going to move forward."
Nevertheless, Southwest is the largest airline to commit to RNP capability across its entire fleet. Alaska Airlines, which pioneered the development of RNP procedures, previously had made the same commitment. Blakey said 37 RNP approaches currently are available at 17 airports, with an additional 34 scheduled to be in place by year end and another 25 published next year.
Delta Air Lines Executive VP-Operations Joe Kolshak was on hand to detail the benefits performance-based navigation has brought to his carrier. DL received approval in March for its 737-800s to fly RNP approaches, joining Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and Continental Airlines, and ATL has been RNAV-equipped since FY05. Kolshak said average delays have been reduced at ATL by 3 min., which he said was the equivalent of adding three aircraft to the fleet. DL ranked sixth among US legacy carriers in ontime performance two years ago and stands second so far this year. The fifth runway and new taxiway also have been key contributors.
Kolshak said Delta is conducting constant descent approach beta testing on early morning transcontinental arrivals at Atlanta and that initial indications are that it will save 400 lb. of fuel per flight, or 13 million gal. per year.