Southwest Airlines and Naverus Partner to Revolutionize Flight Operations
Tailored RNP Being Developed for Every Airport Southwest Serves
DALLAS and SEATTLE, May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and Naverus announce today that they have signed an agreement to partner on development of an RNP program. RNP (Required Navigation Performance) brings together the accuracy of GPS (Global Positioning System), the capabilities of advanced aircraft avionics, and new flight procedures to achieve safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly flight operations.
"We recently commissioned Naverus to illustrate the benefits of RNP for Southwest Airlines," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest EVP and Chief of Operations. "We discovered how Tailored RNP can be used for more than just terrain-challenged airports. By using it everywhere we'll unlock the tremendous capabilities of modern avionics, maximizing our investment in new aircraft and equipment."
Tailored RNP procedures reduce fuel consumption, improve safety, and minimize emissions and noise while simultaneously taking advantage of the high-performance characteristics that exist in an airline's fleet. These enhancements distinguish Tailored RNP from publicly available or Public RNP procedures which are designed to serve a broad variety of users. "RNP is a cornerstone of the FAA's Next Generation Air Traffic System," Van de Ven said. "We applaud the FAA's forward thinking and are eager to work with them as we deploy RNP and provide our industry with operational efficiencies including reduced fuel burn, lower greenhouse gas emissions, less congestion and fewer delays."
Naverus will share its experience and expertise in RNP program development with Southwest as they develop new policies, procedures and training materials for RNP operations. The partnership will continue with Naverus using its recently earned designation from the FAA as an RNP Approval Consultant to guide Southwest through the approval process.
"Southwest, the perennial leader in airline efficiency, is embarking on a revolutionary new flight operations philosophy that will put them in a whole new league," remarked Dan Gerrity, CEO of Naverus.
Following FAA approval to conduct RNP operations, Southwest and Naverus will work with the FAA, Air Traffic Controllers, and airport communities to develop and implement tailored approach and departure procedures at each of the airports Southwest serves.
About Southwest
Southwest Airlines was named to BusinessWeek magazine's first ever list of "Customer Service Champs." The BusinessWeek list, which appeared in the March 5, 2007, issue, ranks the best providers of Customer Service, and digs into the techniques, strategies, and tools they use to deliver great service. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned according to the latest release from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, currently serves 63 cities in 32 states-the airline will begin service to San Francisco this fall. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 33,000 Employees nationwide.
About Naverus
Naverus is the worldwide RNP leader. The company provides a full range of RNP products and services including assisting regulatory agencies with the establishment of standards, aircraft manufacturers with equipment certification and operators with the development and maintenance of network- wide RNP programs. Having developed more than 350 tailored procedures, the company's designs represent the overwhelming majority of RNP procedures in active use today. Naverus Tailored RNP procedures incorporate fuel-saving efficiencies and other benefits making them popular with airlines. Customers include Airbus, Air China, Air New Zealand, Boeing, jetBlue, Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Blue and WestJet. The Seattle Company, which is privately-held, was founded in 2003.
SOURCE Southwest Airlines; Naverus
Released May 16, 2007