Branson green air blueprint.Byline: By MARTIN FRICKER SIR Richard Branson yesterday unveiled plans to slash the amount of pollution created by the airline industry. The Virgin boss's blueprint includes a "starting grid" for take-offs, a "continuous descent approach Continuous Descent Approach is an aircraft approach method designed to reduce fuel burn and noise. This involves maintaining a constant 3 degree angle during descent, until meeting the Instrument Landing System. " on landing and a single European air traffic control system. It means planes would be towed to take-off point and would cut their engines earlier on descent. Branson reckons fuel consumption would be slashed by 90 per cent and 150million tonnes of carbon emissions saved a year. And he wants one air traffic control system to replace the current 35 - leading to a 12 per cent cut in emissions. Gatwick airport is ready to test his plans and Branson wants other airlines to follow suit. He said: "The world is heading for catastrophe with global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. . The airline industry must play its part in averting a·vert tr.v. a·vert·ed, a·vert·ing, a·verts 1. To turn away: avert one's eyes. 2. that." Branson is also planning to reduce the weight of Virgin aircraft. CAPTION(S): PLAN: Sir Richard |
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