News: Aircraft parking bays could cut pollution
Flights > News > # 1103 (06/12/2006)
Virgin Atlantic is piloting an anti-pollution scheme designed to cut down the amount of time aircraft use their engines whilst waiting to take off.
Virgin Atlantic will be carrying out test trials at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports throughout December on so-called “starting grids”, a holding area close to the runway consisting of several parking bays for aircraft. It means that aircraft can be towed closer to a runway before take-off, substantially reducing the time that engines need to be running. A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said towing aircraft closer to the runway would result in lower noise levels and cleaner air on the ground.
The airline is also holding talks with the international airports in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as JFK in New York, about conducting similar trials in the United States.
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