Airbus targets more efficient flights

Airbus, along with partners Air France, DSNA, and french air navigation provider ANSP is working towards the development of more efficient gate to gate flying as an interim measure ahead of more efficient aircraft.

The project is part of the Albatross initiative and will demonstrate the feasibility of implementing more efficient flight planning gate to gate at airports.

The initiative will use a holistic approach by covering all flight phases which will directly involving all relevant stakeholder groups (such as airlines, ANSPs, network managers, airports, and industry). It will also address both operational and technological aspects of aviation and Air Traffic Management (ATM).

Where possible, these ideas will be put into practice during the flight demonstrations which can include new precision approach procedures to find efficient routings and continuous climb and descent.

Using the transmission of 4-dimensional trajectory information, air traffic managers will be able to optimise and predict an aircraft trajectory allowing them to better optimise the flight.

Launched in 2021, Albatross consists of partners including Airbus, Air France, Austro Control, DLR, DSNA, Eurocontrol, LFV, Lufthansa, Novair, Schiphol, Smart Airport Systems, SWEDAVIA, SWISS, Thales AVS France and WIZZ AIR UK.