Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Airlines are dumping weight to become more fuel efficient
If you've ever driven your car with more people in it than usual, or with it packed with luggage during a summer vacation, you've probably noticed the difference in how the car feels. You may wonder why the car feel like it's dragging. Then you remember the extra weight. The extra weight uses up gas. Airplanes aren't any different. The more weight the plane carries, the more gas it uses.
With fuel prices moving upward, airlines are looking for ways to move the weight their planes carry downward. Here are some items airlines are dumping or have already dumped to become more fuel efficient, according to this article in The Plain Dealer.
- magazine racks
- unused ovens
- wing lights
- drinking glasses
- extra wires in walls
- paper manuals in cockpits
And here are some switches you may notice
- cookies traded for light baked chips
- lighter, thinner materials used for seats
Next time you are flying, look around and see what could be dumped or changed for the airplane to be more fuel efficient. You may not choose to dump the passenger sitting next to you. Here is a suggestion I thought of. Pork rinds are lighter than chips.
Filed under: Food and Drink, Airlines, Transportation, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marilyn Terrell Apr 20th 2008 1:49PM
I just flew Airtran and each seat pocket contained the heavy Airtran magazine, plus the Sky Mall catalog. Does anyone actually buy anything from Sky Mall? I'd be happy to chuck those out the window, I mean, recycle them responsibly.
Jamie Rhein Apr 20th 2008 5:50PM
Marilyn,
I was wondering about Sky Mall myself. With hours waiting for a flight to take off, perhaps people go nuts with the ordering.