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No, nobody’s weighing the passengers…yet. But airlines are doing all sorts of imaginative things to drop pounds off a plane, to save fuel. Here’s a partial listing (from the International Herald Tribune — see the full story here). - Japan Airlines suspends beer sales on domestic flights - Cathay Pacific strips paint off some planes (paint can weigh 440 lbs on a 747) - American swaps old drink carts for new models (17 lbs lighter) - Northwest is putting 25% less water in bathrooms on international flights (water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon) It all adds up: Southwest figures that, since it began washing some of its jet engines on a nightly basis last April (to reduce “drag” caused by dirt), its saved $1.6 million in fuel costs. |
RickSeaney.com
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Hi Rick,
While it hasn’t happened yet, I keep hearing that airlines will be replacing lavatory faucets with hand sanitizing gel. That will be another huge weight savings.
As someone else pointed out, eliminating airline meals will also mean reduced bathroom visits and flushing.
Aloha, Jeff
http://beatofhawaii.com
Comment by beatofhawaii.com — June 13, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
How far off could this be true?
“Welcome to Derrie-Air, the world’s only carbon-neutral luxury airline, where you don’t have to choose between living the high life and saving the planet. Nine out of ten scientists agreewe need to reduce our carbon emissions or perish from the face of the earth. Air travel is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions and global warming. Derrie-Air will be the only airline that plants trees to offset every pound of carbon that our planes release into the atmosphere.”… read more here: http://flyderrie-air.com/derrieair.htm
Of course, it’s a fake ad for a fictitious airline designed to put a smile on people’s faces and address the timely issue of carbon emissions. By The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News.
Many a truth is said in jest!
- Chaz
Comment by Chaz Antonelli — June 18, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
American Airlines has always stated the reason their planes are not painted was to shead pounds…besides looking shiney bright!
Comment by Michael Hoyt — June 19, 2008 @ 12:49 am