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Virgin doing it better in the air? | 35 comments (35 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Virgin doing it better in the air? (none / 1)
The Virgin Group chairman proposed "starting grids" be set up at major airports which would allow a plane to be towed from its stand by a small tug closer to the runway before takeoff, reducing the time engines are running.

This would reduce fuel consumption and on-the-ground carbon emissions for Virgin Atlantic aircraft by more than 50 per cent ahead of take-off at London's Heathrow Airport and almost 90 per cent at New York's John F Kennedy airport, Mr Branson said in a statement.

Mr. Branson, are you saying 90% of aircrat fuel is spent taxying?

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 27th, 2006 at 07:37:03 AM EST
Re: Virgin doing it better in the air? (none / 0)
I think he's saying that 90% of the fuel spent in JFK is wasted.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 27th, 2006 at 07:44:39 AM EST
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Re: Virgin doing it better in the air? (none / 0)
stupid enough to ring true, eh?

it's the same with cars, if you think about it, so much waste revving at the lights...

vw came out with a golf about 10 years ago that automatically switched off at traffic lights and started again at the touvh of the accelerator.

it didn't sell well, notwithstanding the brilliant innovation, and the benefits to those suffering from respiratory diseases, if that had been made mandatory on ALL cars!

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Sep 27th, 2006 at 08:59:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Virgin doing it better in the air? | 35 comments (35 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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