Yesterday, Boeing (BA) said it had completed its critical design review of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures for Panama’s Tocumen International Airport and Howard Airport.
The critical design review, which took place at the Copa Airlines training center in Panama City, assessed the “fly-ability” of the procedures to ensure compatibility with airline crew procedures. RNP uses global-positioning satellites and onboard flight-management systems to guide airplanes accurately along precise flight paths.
More precise routing will help in saving flight time and fuel consumption significantly by providing the most direct arrival routes to the runways. It will also help in lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
In May, Boeing signed an agreement with Panama’s Civil Aviation Authority to provide RNP procedures as part of the country’s effort to set new standards for safe and efficient airline operations for its aviation sector.
The current economic crisis remains a real threat to global economic growth in the short term and the airline industry in particular. However, if there is anything positive about the current economic crisis for the aviation industry, it is the fact that oil prices have almost halved from $150 to around $73 per barrel, which will help reduce operating costs.
Despite the broadly systemic pressures of the current market environment, Boeing’s second-quarter results reflect good performance across the majority of its businesses. Moreover, the company’s priority to reposition its defense business while extending existing programs and expanding in the international markets will prove to be encouraging in the coming years.
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