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Industry Trends/Innovations
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New engines to provide big efficiency gains
Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is working toward increased efficiency in some of its newest engines. Its Geared Turbofan engines—GTFs, are expected to deliver the following benefits:- Reductions in fuel burn
- Cuts in carbon dioxide emissions
- Reductions in maintenance costs
- Reductions in NOx emissions
- Decreases in engine noise levels
The gear system enables greater efficiency and less noise, and the use of lighter-weight materials and fewer engine blades also improves performance. Demonstrator engines are currently being tested, and the company is continuing to look at options for production engines that would be lighter weight.Sources: Air Transport World, pratt-whitney.com
Health facilities are common amenities at US airports
The April 2007 edition of CWT Traveler reported the opening of the first U.S. health care facility at the Newark Liberty airport. Since the opening of this facility last year, pharmacies and walk-in health clinics have opened at additional airports in the U.S., hoping to capture a sizable portion of travelers and airport employees who want access to basic health care and to fill their prescriptions at the last minute.Healthcare facilities have been common at large foreign airports, as the U.S. domestic airports have mostly focused on services that cater to travelers' immediate needs. While similar to primary care physician offices, walk-in clinics generally focus on a limited range of medical services and medications, typically administered by nurse practitioners.In addition to the health facility that launched at Newark Liberty last year, plans to open several other airport locations across the U.S. include a facility in the JetBlue Terminal 5 at New York's John F. Kennedy airport this September. This spring, clinics will be opening at the Philadelphia and Miami International airports, followed by the Orlando and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airports later this year.Sources: USA Today, ABC News
