Air transport is responsible for 2.5% to 3% of global CO2 emissions, but is the focus of criticism because only a fraction of the world's population uses it. Faced with the climate crisis, many airlines are pledging their commitment to decarbonisation, in particular by encouraging their pilots to save fuel in flight. VIDEOGRAPHIC
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00:00To consume less fuel, pilots need a plane which carries no excess weight.
00:10They therefore precisely calculate the amount of fuel to be taken on board while maintaining
00:15a safety margin.
00:16During taxiing on the runway, only one motor is running.
00:20The second is started just before takeoff.
00:22For takeoff, the pilot optimizes the inclination of the wing flaps to reach a good climbing
00:27gradient without affecting the aerodynamics of the plane, which would consume more fuel.
00:33During the flight, fuel-efficient flying has two objectives.
00:36Firstly, to have the most direct flight path possible, weather and air traffic permitting.
00:42Then to fly at a high altitude, around 10,000 meters, where the air is less dense and provides
00:48less resistance to the plane, which consumes less fuel.
00:52At the end of the flight, the ideal is to descend continuously.
00:56The pilot slows the motors and makes use of the plane's ability to glide, like when
01:01the driver of a car stops using the accelerator while going downhill.
01:05But in reality, most planes must often wait their turn to land and are kept at different
01:10altitudes, which requires more fuel.
01:14During landing, the objective is to open the landing gear and the wing flaps as late as
01:18possible and to use the length of the runway to slow down.
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