Air New Zealand Installs Dryers to Cut Aircraft Emissions
Air New Zealand is reinforcing its claim to the title of the world's most environmentally responsible airline by installing new equipment that will reduce the carbon emissions from its international jet fleet, according to a Sept. 23 press release.
The airline will retrofit zonal dryers supplied by CTT Systems Inc of Sweden across four of its jet fleets to reduce fuel burn and consequent emissions.
The electrically-powered dryers, mounted in the space above the ceiling or under the floor, reduce moisture trapped in insulation between the aircraft outer skin and cabin lining. They typically remove around 200 kilograms of water from each aircraft, which reduces fuel consumption.
Air New Zealand expects to save 500,000 gallons of fuel a year across 42 aircraft, reducing carbon emissions by 4,700 ton a year.
The zonal dryers are part of a range of modifications to the current fleet planned through to 2010 that will produce further fuel and emission savings.
Morgan says CTT's zonal dryer technology delivers other benefits which strengthened the business case. "Reducing fuel burn and emissions got our attention, but reducing moisture also improves the insulation's effectiveness; it results in a healthier cabin environment and reduces the potential for corrosion.
"Once we had proved the range of benefits to our satisfaction, the decision was obvious and we moved quickly to capture the benefits across our four jet aircraft fleets."
Air New Zealand will install CTT dryers throughout its Boeing 777, 767, 737 and Airbus A320 fleets.