Airport News Japan

MLIT Introduces New Aircraft Descent Method for “Eco-Friendly Airports" - Trials at KIX

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The current descent approach and the CDA approach (red line).

Starting on May 7, the Civil Aviation Bureau (CAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) began a trial of a new and efficient descent and landing method to reduce CO2 emissions from fuel burn during the late-night and early morning hours at Kansai International Airport (KIX).

The new method is called the Continuous Descent Approach (CDA), in which an arriving aircraft maintains minimum engine thrust while flying at a continuous, optimal rate of descent until the start point for the instrument approach, rather than flying at a level angle. As this makes possible a gentle descent without the need to suddenly increase engine thrust midway, it is expected to be effective in reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions.

The trials will be performed by Japanese airlines during the late-night and early morning hours (11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.) at the airport. The current schedule calls for an average of five aircraft per day to use CDA. Calculations using a Boeing 767 as the aircraft estimate annual reductions in fuel burn to be 470,000 liters (roughly 2,360 drums), and reductions in CO2 emissions to be 1,160 tons. Estimates put total related cost reductions at approximately 18 million yen. CDA has already been introduced at some airports in the U.K. and the U.S.A., with aviation authorities verifying reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The use of CDA at Kansai International will be the first in Japan.

The CAB will consider expanding the number of airports and aircraft employing CDA depending on the results of the trial evaluations.

MLIT Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and TourismKansai International Airport