http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/07/06/daily25.html Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - July 8, 2009 Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 8:11am PDT Alaska Airlines studies changes for Sea-Tac landings Alaska Airlines said it=92s testing new flight procedures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport that the airline said could save it millions of gallons of fuel each year and provide for quieter landings. Alaska is testing landing procedures using a satellite guidance technology called required navigation performance, or RNP. According to the airline, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) of Seattle, the technology allows planes to =93descend more efficiently and reduce aircraft fuel consumption, emissions and noise in the Puget Sound region.=94 The airline said it=92s working with airport operator Port of Seattle, Boeing Co. (Alaska Airlines flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet), and the Federal Aviation Administration during the testing of the system. Alaska Airlines said the new system could cut its fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons a year, reduce carbon emissions by 22,000 metric tons, and reduce landing noise created by its planes. =93With FAA approval, we hope the procedures will be available to all carriers and gradually integrated into the Seattle air traffic system. This project could also become a blueprint for expanded use of next-generation technology at more U.S. airports,=94 said Gary Beck, Alaska=92s vice president of flight operations, in a statement. Alaska said it hopes to obtain FAA approval for the system, which would also be used by sister airline Horizon Air, by next year. All contents of this site =A9 American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".