At the Airline & Aerospace MRO & Flight Operations IT Conference EMEA 2024, AVTECH and SAS Scandinavian Airlines presented a compelling case study showcasing the transformative impact of AVTECH’s ClearPath on SAS’s flight operations.
SAS conducted a trial from December 2022 to May 2023, implementing ClearPath into their SAS A320 and A321 fleet.
The results demonstrated a significant improvement. From 2019 to 2023, fuel efficiency increased by 1%. Building on this progress, fuel efficiency improved by an additional 0.25% from 2023 to 2024, particularly within the neo fleet.
Svein Erik explained, “The results were impressive, showing significant reductions in cruise fuel consumption. We have seen pilots embracing ClearPath, and we found the service highly effective.
Leveraging a Flight Cruise Profile Optimizer for eco-efficient flying
Watch the SAS initiative from Aircraft IT Airline & Aerospace MRO & Flight Operations IT Conference – EMEA
Svein Erik Jackwitz is a pilot with over 35 years of aviation experience, having joined Scandinavian Airlines in 1990. He has an extensive experience operating both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.
Svein-Erik holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, which complements his piloting skills by providing a good foundation in aerodynamic physics and aircraft behavior. This enables him to have a thorough understanding of practical, efficient and sustainable flying.
Svein Erik Jackwitz Fuel Efficiency Specialist
SAS Scandinavian Airlines
SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES (SAS)
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operates a fleet of 130 aircraft. The long-haul fleet consists of eleven aircraft from the Airbus A330 and A350 families, as well as 55 from the Airbus A320 family. The remaining fleet includes 32 additional Airbus A320s, nine Embraer E195-100s, 17 Bombardier CRJs, and six ATR-72s.
Like many airlines, SAS has faced significant challenges in recent times, especially following the pandemic. The company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2024, marking a new chapter in its history. Despite these hurdles, SAS remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability and is determined to regain its market position, continuing its journey toward becoming Scandinavia’s preferred airline and a leader in sustainable aviation
To find the most cost-effective trajectory ClearPath uses high-resolution 10K wind and temperature forecasts from the UK Met Office. The pilots receive excellent decision support through ACARS messaging advising them of the most efficient flight profile to fly. AVTECH solutions encompass all turbulence hazards, delivering accurate information and alerting pilots to hazardous weather conditions, including SIGMET alerts.
The presentation also highlighted how ClearPath has influenced pilot behavior. Initially, pilots were flying at lower altitudes than recommended. However, as they became more accustomed to ClearPath, they began to adjust their flight paths to align with its recommendations, leading to significant fuel savings. The system also helped pilots avoid cold temperatures, optimizing flight paths to stay within safe temperature ranges.
Analysis indicates a significant opportunity for further savings through flight optimization. Flights identified as candidates for optimization demonstrated an average equivalent fuel saving of 24.1 kilograms, which translates to a 1.44% reduction.
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