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Thu 1 Jun 2017 – Lufthansa Cargo has received the 2017 DQS German Award for Excellence in the Environmental Responsibility category for its data collection tool OMEGA that provides key information for reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. It was one of a number of awards made to businesses by global management systems certification body DQS for a commitment to sustainability practices. Developed by aviation software specialist Honeywell Aviaso together with Lufthansa, the Ops Monitor and Efficiency Gap Analyser (OMEGA) uses data collected during cargo flights to make future flights more fuel efficient by comparing projected, actual and optimal values. Pilots can use the analysis to best prepare for a flight and identify any deviations from the plan early on. The cargo carrier has a goal to reduce specific carbon emissions by 25% by 2020 from a 2005 baseline.
“Lufthansa Cargo has set itself ambitious goals in the field of climate and environmental responsibility. We are delighted to have received an award for OMEGA as one of our numerous measures aimed at improving the ecological efficiency of flight operations and achieving our targets,” said Bettina Jansen, Head of Environmental Management.
The OMEGA system collects large quantities of real data directly from the aircraft – around 20,000 lines in Excel multiplied by 80 parameters – and data is saved every two seconds. As well as weather conditions, it evaluates information on speed or flap position.
It is the “big picture” the airline is looking at, said Michael Lingemann, an OMEGA specialist in the fuel management team. “With OMEGA, we are not focusing on an individual flight, but seeking to identify patterns,” he explained.
Although the tool collects a lot of data, it is not well-suited to performance measurement analysis. “The data is merely a recommendation,” said Björn Ostertag, Head of Punctuality and Fuel Efficiency Management. “In the end, it is the pilot who decides. Nevertheless, the tool does have a lot to say as it is being used now by DFS [the German air navigation service provider] and Eurocontrol to analyse airways in an effort to find shorter routes and optimise approach procedures and routings.”
To meet its 25% specific carbon emissions reduction goal, Lufthansa Cargo is progressing wider fuel efficiency through flight optimisation and weight reduction initiatives. As well as reducing aircraft weight by removing surplus equipment and digitising paper documentation, it is switching standard cargo containers with lightweight alternatives. It is also replacing its MD-11F freighters with Boeing 777F aircraft, which emit around 17% less CO2 per tonne.
Links:
Lufthansa Cargo – Environmental responsibility
DQS German Awards for Excellence
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