Speech

ASPIRE Post-Landing Event

Good afternoon, and thanks for coming. I’ve flown lots of jets in a whole lot of places, both for the Navy and as a line pilot, and let me tell you, if you want to see where we need to go with navigation, you’re looking at it right here.

The flight that brings us to San Francisco today is a giant step toward where aviation’s got to be as an industry. This one’s going to put a dent in airline fuel consumption. When you cut fuel burn, you’re giving the environment a real shot in the arm.

We’re here because of ASPIRE — a gate-to-gate concept that touches every aspect of your flight — from taxi to touchdown. It’s just flat out green. ASPIRE means Asia-South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions. ASPIRE is a partnership among groups who are serious about doing things differently, doing things better. I’m especially eager to talk to you a bit later about a new arrival procedure. As a former line pilot, I can tell you it is indeed different — and better.

Normally, busy traffic patterns around and into an airport require flights to take a “step down” approach, moving slowly from altitude to altitude on descent. To make an analogy, ASPIRE carves an HOV lane that lets controllers give the pilot one smooth, steady continuous approach.

Less fuel burn, less time. In short, innovation like ASPIRE is good for the industry, the passenger and the planet. The bottom line is that this is going to change how we fly. I’m convinced of that.

Now, let’s listen in as the controllers talk to ASPIRE Flight 1. Listen for the call sign “Air New Zealand Flight 8.” We'll be telling you more about this concept and some other green initiatives in just a few minutes at the airport museum.