DALLAS, TX — Southwest Airlines has started using satellite-
based landing procedures at some airports as part of the Federal
Aviation Administration's industry-wide NextGen program. The
airline says it's using Required Navigation Performance (RNP)
flight procedures at 11 U.S. airports. RNP uses GPS to guide
aircrafts on smoother landings while also leading them on more
direct routes. The procedures are designed to make it easier for
pilots and controllers to see air traffic, thus increasing
safety, along with reducing air travel's environmental impacts
by making landings and routes more efficient. Southwest expects
to initially save $16 million a year by using satellite-based
approaches at Amarillo, Birmingham, Boise, Corpus Christi, Los
Angeles, Chicago Midway, Oakland, Oklahoma City, West Palm
Beach, Raleigh-Durham, and San Jose airports. Once Southwest
implements the new procedures at all airports it flies to, it
anticipates those savings will jump to $60 million a year.
Alaska Airlines showed the benefits