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End of Cold War Opens Polar Air Routes
Ottawa - Oct. 11, 2000 Nav Canada and the Federal Aviation Authority of Russia (FAAR) have released a detailed feasibility study that concludes that shorter polar air routes from North America and Asia are feasible and offer significant time savings. The end of the Cold War has enabled aircraft to begin using a set of four polar routes, known to the aviation community as Polar 1,2,3 and 4. "The Feasibility Study represents over a year of analysis with our Russian partners, and demonstrates that polar routes are a viable project that will benefit both the airlines and the travelling public", said Sid Koslow, Vice-President, Engineering. "We anticipate that using polar routes will save passengers significant flying time. Airlines will use less fuel and that will mean significant savings on each flight." Limited commercial flight has been approved by the Russian authorities for demonstration purposes. These demonstration flights are approved until the end of October, 2000, and may be extended for a longer period. Airlines travelling from Toronto to Beijing will travel through 2,788 nautical miles in Canadian airspace and 3,013 nautical miles through Russian and Chinese airspace. NAV CANADA is responsible for the Canadian portion of the flights. A flight leaving Vancouver for Delhi would currently take almost 18 hours. With polar routes, the same flight would take place in 13 1/2 hours, saving 4 hours and 15 minutes. This translates into potential savings of over $40,000 (CDN) per flight. A flight from New York to Hong Kong would save 5 hours and has a potential savings of almost $50,000 (CDN) per flight. Airlines have expressed increased interest in using these direct routes. It is for this reason that NAV CANADA and the FAAR decided to look at the operational, technical and economic feasibility for operating new air routes across Polar Regions. The study looked at traffic levels between North America and Asia; wind patterns of the Polar region; the demand and capacity of the Routes; operational and technical requirements; costs, revenues, economic efficiency and other financial data; and airline and passenger benefits. NAV CANADA intends to invest approximately $7 million (CDN), in this project, financed out of the normal budget for capital expenditures and subject to the Russian FAAR securing the required financing for changes to its system. The Russian investment would be approximately $33 million (USD). Both FAAR and NAV CANADA agree that polar routes implementation is both feasible and desirable. The demand for the service is there, the operational and technical concepts will support the safe and efficient flow of polar traffic, and the project is economically viable. The next phase of the project will entail securing the finances necessary for implementation. NAV CANADA will assist Russia in obtaining the requisite financing from third parties for infrastructure and training. NAV CANADA, the country's provider of civil air navigation services, is a non-share capital, private corporation with operations coast to coast providing air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation. Aviation User Benefits - Direct polar routes save passengers travel time and cost less. The new routes are shorter. Stopovers are avoided, reducing both passenger travel time and airline operating costs. Airline flight times are reduced and fuel, maintenance and operation costs are reduced.
Time savings in minutes and dollars per flight In light of the great potential demand for use of the cross polar routes, and in order to meet the airline industry's need for safe, economical travel via the North Pole, investments are needed to expedite project implementation. The total required investment will be 32.8 million U.S. dollars. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Space Technology News - Applications and Research
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