On May seventeenth, Air Canada announced that it could fit certainly one of its Airbus A330-300s with special diagnostics sensors as a part of a partnership with a climate research organization. Amongst other things, the jet and its newly fitted sensors will measure greenhouse gases to grasp climate change higher.
Joining the IAGOS fleet
Air Canada has now joined eight other aircraft as a part of IAGOS – or . This ‘fleet’ of aircraft are fitted with special sensors to measure air quality and composition. The airlines currently flying as a part of the IAGOS program are as follows:
While Air Canada’s Airbus A330 is the most recent member of this system, it’s listed as starting on April twentieth.
“As a number one global airline, we’re proud to partner with IAGOS to advance their essential climate research work…The knowledge gathered will even help provide more accurate weather data crucial for airline operations, and can enable a more in-depth understanding of adjusting weather dynamics,” -Valerie Durand, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Sustainability, Air Canada
Photo: Air Canada
Jean-Marie Flaud, President of IAGOS-AISB, adds that Air Canada will provide essential latest data, particularly regarding understanding climate change issues in northern regions, which she highlights are warming greater than twice as fast as elsewhere. can be one other potential use for the jet.
One-month of operations
Having begun its role with IAGOS on April twentieth, a press release from Air Canada notes that results are already coming in. Dr. Hannah Clark, Executive Secretary for IAGOS-AISBL, states that after just a number of days in operation, the aircraft has Clark adds that scientists will use this data to grasp the impact of events like this on the atmosphere and climate.
The precise aircraft Air Canada has offered up is an Airbus A330-300 registered C-GEFA with fleet number 939 and MSN 997. This airframe is a bit over 14 years of age and joined Air Canada in 2019. After assembly, the aircraft first joined Singapore Airlines as 9V-STD in 2009. It then went to TAP Air Portugal as CS-TOU in 2017.
The device fitted onto C-GEFA measures a spread of parameters during various stages of flight, including:
- Ozone
- Water vapor
- Greenhouse gases
- Reactive gases
- Aerosols
- Clouds
Why Airbus widebodies only?
You’ll have noticed from the list of airlines and aircraft above that only Airbus A330s and A340s are a part of the IAGOS program. That is because these are the one two aircraft types approved for the IAGOS systems.
Considering the undeniable fact that IAGOS relies in Belgium and works closely with the CNRS () research center in Toulouse, France, it could make sense that the organization has chosen to work with Airbus first.
Photo: Air Canada
The IAGOS device is noted to be a “compact system” which features measuring probes which are permanently installed on the aircraft near the flight deck. At the tip of every flight, the information collected is routinely transmitted to the central database of the CNRS.
Did you understand about IAGOS and its fleet of participating Airbus jets? What do you’re thinking that of this initiative? Tell us by leaving a comment.
Sources: Planespotters.net