The FAA implemented changes to the way airplanes make their descent as they approach a number of U.S. airports.
Called Optimized Profile Descents, or OPDs, the changes were implemented in 2022 and now affect planes heading to Kansas City, Omaha, Reno, Orlando and six south Florida airports.
Here are the airports that will be affected by these OPDs, along with the ways the changes will impact passengers’ flight experience.
The OPDs involve adjusting the way airplanes make their descent.
Originally, airplanes would take a “stair-step” approach, which involved a plane approaching its destination by decreasing its altitude, leveling off and then repeating this process until the airplane lands.
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With the new OPDs, an airplane would descend by following a continuous arc down to the tarmac.
This new type of descent would require less communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, whereas traditional descents require communication at each “step” of the stair-step procedure.
Additionally, an OPD descent would set the airplane engines at near idle. In contrast, the traditional stair-step approach requires the aircraft to level off and power up the engines repeatedly.
The FAA noted other benefits of the OPDs, such as a smoother ride for passengers and less noise at ground level due to less engine revving.
The changes are also expected to save the airline industry more than 90,000 gallons of fuel annually. According to the FAA, this is due to the OPDs involving the aircraft descending at near idle, making the new descents more fuel efficient.
The FAA noted that the changes are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 27,000 tons annually.
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According to the FAA, these changes brought about by the new OPDs are equivalent to fuel used by 62 Boeing 737 flights between New York and Cleveland.
The airports affected by these recent changes include:
“We are investing across the entire system to provide passengers with the best travel experience,” said Billy Nolen, Acting FAA Administrator.
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“The era of choppy descents is coming to an end, providing a smoother landing and saving fuel in the process,” he added.