Southwest Airlines 2015 Annual Report Download - page 22
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In addition to climate change, aircraft noise continues to be an environmental focus, especially as the
FAA implements new flight procedures as part of its “NextGen” airspace modernization program
discussed below. The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 gives airport operators the right, under
certain circumstances, to implement local noise abatement programs, so long as they do not
unreasonably interfere with interstate or foreign commerce or the national air transportation system.
Some airports have established airport restrictions to limit noise, including restrictions on aircraft types
to be used and limits on the number of hourly or daily operations or the time of operations. These types
of restrictions can cause curtailments in service or increases in operating costs and can limit the ability
of air carriers to expand operations at the affected airports. At the federal level, the FAA is considering
changes in 2016 to enhance community engagement when developing new flight procedures, and there
is a possibility that Congress may enact legislation in 2016 to address local noise concerns at one or
more commercial airports in the United States.
The Company has undertaken a number of fuel conservation and carbon emission reduction initiatives
such as the following:
• installation of blended winglets, which reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency, on all
Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft in Southwest’s fleet and on a majority of Southwest’s
737-300 aircraft;
• upgrading of the Company’s 737-800 fleet with newly designed, split scimitar winglets;
• periodic engine washes;
• use of electric ground power for aircraft air and power at the gate and for ground support
equipment at select locations;
• deployment of auto-throttle and vertical navigation to maintain optimum cruising speeds;
• implementation of engine start procedures to support the Company’s single engine taxi
procedures;
• adjustment of the timing of auxiliary power unit starts on originating flights to reduce
auxiliary power unit usage;
• implementation of fuel planning initiatives to safely reduce loading of excess fuel;
•Evolve aircraft cabin interior retrofitting featuring lighter seats;
• reduction of aircraft engine idle speed while on the ground, which also increases engine life;
• galley refreshes with dry goods weight reduction;
• Company optimized routes (flying the best wind routes to take advantage of tailwinds or to
minimize headwinds);
• improvements in flight planning algorithms to better match the Company’s aircraft flight
management system (and thereby enabling the Company to fly at the most efficient
altitudes);
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