Europe’s Planes to Fly Closer Together

[afang]

PARIS, Jan. 23 — Europe’s crowded airspace will become denser on Thursday when the minimum vertical cruising distance between planes is halved under a reform supporters say will mean safer flying and fewer delays.
COMMERCIAL AIRSPACE is split into layers, or altitudes which airplanes must fly at. Currently 2,000 feet of air separate each of the six layers above the minimum cruising altitude of 29,000 feet.

Cutting the separation distance to 1,000 feet for planes plying Europe’s skies will be the most important change in the continent’s airspace in 50 years.

Overall capacity will grow by 20 percent and the industry will save 3.9 billion euros ($3.45 billion) and 290,000 tons of fuel per year because fewer planes will have to change their route, air traffic authority Eurocontrol says.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/692822.asp?0dm=C17OL

[afang]

PARIS, Jan. 23 — Europe’s crowded airspace will become denser on Thursday when the minimum vertical cruising distance between planes is halved under a reform supporters say will mean safer flying and fewer delays.
COMMERCIAL AIRSPACE is split into layers, or altitudes which airplanes must fly at. Currently 2,000 feet of air separate each of the six layers above the minimum cruising altitude of 29,000 feet.

Cutting the separation distance to 1,000 feet for planes plying Europe’s skies will be the most important change in the continent’s airspace in 50 years.

Overall capacity will grow by 20 percent and the industry will save 3.9 billion euros ($3.45 billion) and 290,000 tons of fuel per year because fewer planes will have to change their route, air traffic authority Eurocontrol says.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/692822.asp?0dm=C17OL