“The project calculated that the reduced speed achieved during the trial period corresponds to a reduction of about 800 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year in the Gothenburg region, which also means a savings of about two million Swedish kronor in fuel costs for airlines. These are large volumes for a change that is fairly easy to implement and that the airlines are also asking for,” says Patrik Bergviken, an air traffic controller at Göteborg Landvetter and the project manager for EcoDescend.
The average speed reduction achieved during the EcoDescend trial corresponds to a longer flight time of about 35 seconds. The Gothenburg area comprises both Göteborg Landvetter Airport and Göteborg City Airport.
“The collaboration between Swedavia and LFV to reduce the environmental impact of aviation is incredibly positive, with EcoDescend being one of several ongoing projects aimed at reducing the environmental impact of aviation through different types of optimisation. Green landings, curved approaches and speed limits all help in our shared efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noise in the vicinity,” says Göteborg Landvetter’s environmental manager, Maria Gelin.
LFV hopes to test similar methods elsewhere in Sweden. With good results and implementation throughout Swedish airspace, it will be possible to achieve an annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of around 10,000 metric tons.