Shorter, quieter, satellite-based flight paths coming for Calgary International Airport

CALGARY –  Nav Canada is introducing new procedures for planes landing at the Calgary International Airport which will mean shorter flights, fuel savings and – hopefully – less air traffic noise around Calgary.

The Required Navigation Performance Procedure (RNP) was developed using the latest GPS technology to help planes take a more efficient approach into airports. Nav Canada suggests RNP descents will save three to four minutes of flying time and up to 200 liters of fuel per flight. It’s being introduced in cities across the country and has already made itsdebut at YYC.

“The RNPs that Nav Canada are proposing are actually already being flown now,” said Jody Moseley from the Calgary Airport. “So it’s a matter of a little bit more precise flight path. We think that there’s a benefit because that aircraft comes in quieter and also gets in quicker and those are really important things for the community below.”

There were plenty of noise complaints from the Airdrie region following the opening of the north/south runway last year. The lion’s share of approaches to YYC come from the south, making a turn over the Airdrie region.

“For us, we don’t mind the noise, but I know in Airdrie there was a big concern about the plane noise,” said Kendra Bagora, and Airdrie resident for over seven years. “It will be welcome news for a lot of people.”

People living in the Balzac area, however, may hear a little more noise than usual. The shortened paths will now see planes turn before reaching Airdrie and make their final descent just north of Calgary.

People living along Glenmore Trail, meanwhile, may hear more descents from the north, which will now take a tighter approach over communities like Ogden.

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Long-time Ogden resident, Hilarie Brock, said the boom of planes over her community has waxed and waned over the years as traffic control patterns shift. “Certainly it’s aggravating if you’re sitting outside and trying to have a conversation but, you know, it’s just life when you’re living in a flight path,” sad Brock.

The good news is that planes that are travelling along the new paths will be using a procedure that makes less noise because of reduced engine power. Traditionally planes thrust their engines and level-out mid-flight.

“In leveling the aircraft the pilot has to apply thrust to the engines to arrest their descent and fly a level portion. RNP procedures have no level portions, they’re designed to allow a constant descent that allows the engines to be at idle power so that the aircraft smoothly flies in,” said Michelle Bishop with Nav Canada.

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The Calgary Aiport Authority said noise complaints are down in 2015, about 30 per cent from last year.

Nav Canada is hosting public information sessions about the changes in the coming weeks at the following locations:

Ambrose University, 150 Ambrose Circle S.W., December 2 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Airdrie Town & Country Centre, 103, 275 Jensen Drive N.E., December 3 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Marlborough Community Association, 636 Marlborough Way N.E., December 9, 2015 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Uplands Recreational Centre, 20 Hawkside Close N.W., January 5, 2016 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Palliser Bayview Pumphill Community Association, 2323 Palliser Drive S.W., January 6, 2016 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Not all planes are equipped to use the RNP procedure. Nav Canada estimated only about 10-25 per cent of planes will use the system initially.