polar operations

2003E X T E N D E D O P E R A T I O N S C O N F E R E N C E

Polar OperationsJames VasatkaProgram ManagerRegulatory AffairCommercial Airplanes


Polar OperationsObjective for the Session

Provide a forum to exchange information needed to implement safe and efficient Polar Operations


Polar OperationsAgenda

Major milestone in North America - Asia Market

Considerations for Polar Preparation

FAA Guidance Material

Boeing Support for Polar Operations

Status of the Route Development

Continental Airlines Polar Operations

General Discussion


Major milestone in North America-Asia Market Polar Routes offer New Opportunities

Open new nonstop markets

• More choices, convenience

• Minimize trip time, avoid crowded hubs

More efficient operations

• Lower fuel expense

• Shorter trips

• Increased payload potential

• Eliminates fuel stop

San FranciscoSan Francisco

Los AngelesLos AngelesChicagoChicagoWashingtonWashington

New YorkNew York

SingaporeSingapore

TokyoTokyo

KarachiKarachi

FrankfurtFrankfurtLondonLondon

DelhiDelhi

MoscowMoscow

BeijingBeijing


Major milestone in North America-Asia MarketComparison of Polar vs Conventional Tracks

JFK-PEK B-777 CurrentTracks

Polar PolarSavings &

GainsSummer Season

Passenger Capacity 182 257 +75Passengers

Flight Time 16:26 15:17 -69 Minutes

Winter Season

Passenger Capacity 163 253 +90Passengers

Flight Time 16:45 15:20 -85 Minutes




Preparing for Polar Operations





General Discussion


Preparing for Polar OperationsTalk with airlines conducting polar operations

Understand the capabilities of the en route alternate airports in Russian

Develop diversion recovery plan

Develop cold fuel management procedures

Establish polar route MEL program

Prepare flight crews procedures and training

Establish dispatch/operations control procedures and training









General Discussion


Polar Operations FAA Air Transportation Operations Inspector's Handbook

Order 8400.10

• Establishes a uniform process to validate a US carriers’preparedness

• Documents requirements for polar operations

• Identifies equipment requirements

• Requires passenger recovery plan


Polar OperationsIssues Covered in FAA Guidance Material

• Specific area approval• Definition of Polar Operations• Designation of en route

alternates• Airline recovery plan for

passengers at diversion alternates

• Fuel freeze strategy and monitoring requirements

• Communications

• MEL considerations• Airline training issues• Long-range crew

requirements• Dispatch and crew

considerations during solar flare activity

• Special equipment• Validation requirements for

area approval









General Discussion


Magadan

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Surveys

• July 1998

• Feb. 2001

Yuzno-Sakhalinsk

Khabarovsk

• Dec. 1998

Anadyr

Shemya

• June 1999• Aug. 2000

Tiksi

Khatanga

Norilsk

Mirny

Novosibirsk

Pevek

YakutskNeryungri

Bratsk

Irkutsk

Salekhard

Seoul

Vladivostok

Tokyo

Beijing

Harbin

Cold Bay

Anchorage

Fairbanks

Barrow

Yellow Knife

Churchill

Iqaluit

Longyearbyen

Pituffik

KangerlussuaqUlaanbaatar

Urumqi

Lanzhou

Moscow

BodoMurmansk

ArkhangelskSyktyvkar

Ekaterinburg

• Aug. 2001

Murmansk

Petropavlovsk resurveyed in Sept. 2002

Boeing Support for Polar Operations Airport Safety & Operational Assessment


Boeing Support for Polar Operations Cold Fuel Management Process

Fuel freeze may become an issue when Temperatures drop below -65 deg. C

-45 to -49 C-50 to -55 C-55 to -59 C-60 to -64 C<-65 C


Boeing Support for Polar Operations Airlines Can Address Cold Fuel Issue During Dispatch

Fuel Temperature Prediction Program allows airlines to address cold fuel during dispatch process

MAS 777 Flight Plan - mas6203kg

-40

-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100

Flight Time - Minutes

Tem

pera

ture

- D

egre

es C

TAT - CFuel T - C

PLAN 6203 MAS5405 KPAE TO WMKK 777C M84/F IFR 04/25/01 NONSTOP COMPUTED 1737Z FOR ETD 1900Z PROGS 2512ADF WB173 KGS FTPP - MAS V1.0 04/25/2001 AT 11:24:35


Boeing Support for Polar Operations Navigation In the Polar Region

Navigation in the Polar Region requires special considerations

– Magnetic North Pole moves

– Convergence of longitude and latitude creates a unique navigational environment

Boeing products are designed to address these considerations


Boeing Support for Polar Operations Cosmic Radiation at Commercial Aircraft Altitudes

Exposure to cosmic radiation does not pose a significant health risk

Flying, in general, results in exposure to higher radiation levels

Radiation dose accumulations depend primarily on the route, altitude & solar activity

Polar routes experience higher levels than equatorial routes

Polar Route reduce exposure time (Radiation Level Plateaus at N55)

AnchorageAnchorage

San FranciscoSan Francisco

Los AngelesLos AngelesChicagoChicagoWashingtonWashington

New YorkNew York

DelhiDelhi

LondonLondon

KarachiKarachi

MoscowMoscow

FrankfurtFrankfurt

SingaporeSingapore

TokyoTokyo

N55

BeijingBeijing


Boeing Support for Polar Operations Levels are similar to other long range flights

Comparison of Radiation at Commercial Aircraft Altitudes

Perc

ent o

f IC

RP

Rec

omm

ende

d D

ose

Note: The ICRP is the International Commission on Radiology Protection

* FAA Study on Radiation exposure

ICRP Recommended Dose

100%

50%

0

Polar Routes New York toAthens*

New York toto Tokyo*









General Discussion


Status of Route DevelopmentMany Organizations Contributed

International Civil Aviation OrganizationCanadaChinaMongoliaJapanRussian United States of AmericaRussian American Coordinating Group for Air TrafficNav CanadaIATA MembersATA MembersBoeing


Status of Route DevelopmentRoute Structure Continues to Evolve

Russia developing routes to meet airlines needs

• Transition to Japan Open

• Transitions between Polar Routes continues to evolve


Status of Route DevelopmentCross-Polar City Pairs

ChicagoChicago

Newark/New YorkNewark/New York

BeijingBeijingHongKongHongKong

TokyoTokyo

Air China Continental United

Air China Continental United


Status of Route DevelopmentIATA is an Airline’s Voice to Address Remaining Challenges

Russian ATM Upgrades

• Potential Capacity Constraints• Chinese border crossings constraints

• Routes merge with Russian Far East and European traffic

• Some Routes in China not straight and efficient


Polar OperationsSummary

• Natural evolution from 40 years operational experience in the Polar Region

• Airlines are flying the routes • Opportunities are real• Challenges are real, but can

be overcome successfully• Remaining challenges are

being addressed through the RACGAT and by nation-to-nation discussions








Continental Airlines’ Polar Operations

General Discussion