Tag Archives: autos

iPads to Save Jet Fuel?

American and its parent AMR Corp. estimate that using the iPad over paper could cut its fuel bill by roughly $1.2 million a year because of its lighter weight.

What I love about this quote is that it illustrates American Airlines’ laser-focus on cutting fuel consumption. Have you ever noticed how American Airlines’ planes are polished instead of painted? That’s also for fuel savings. Year’s ago they did a cost analysis on the weight of the paint on planes and determined how much they could save by not painting… and now their planes are polished.

I still can’t stand their lack of customer service though.

iPad Adoption in Aviation

Jeppesen, the authoritative source for all things related to aviation charts (IFR charts, VFR charts, etc.) is taking advantage of all of the iPad’s capabilities as they encourage the move from paper charts to electronic. The combination of the iPad and of Jeppesen’s development efforts will make things a lot easier on pilots.

Biofuels in Aviation

Great article on biofuels being approved for use in commercial aviation.

I’ve got mixed feeling about biofuels. I like the idea of replacing fossil fuels but I think corn ethanol has tied the price of a basic food product to the volatile market of fossil fuels. Corn ethanol subsidies are, in part, to blame for the increase in prices for corn and other grains. I can see the effects of this firsthand over in the Middle East where all grains and grain-based products are imported. It’s the law of unintended consequences catching up with political decision-making.

That’s what I was happy to read this part:

Airbus and Boeing, which together manufacture about 80 percent of the world’s passenger planes, are planning to set up biofuel production chains across the world. Airbus is working on a supply hub in India where it’s talking with government and airline officials. Its aim is to form joint ventures and partnerships with growers, transporters and refiners. Boeing is negotiating with companies across the supply chain in South America. Fuel from inedible plants or waste doesn´t put price pressure on crops as can fuel from corn, sugar cane or soy.

These two private companies apparently have the foresight to avoid the food-product ethanol mistake.

In the photo caption was something that hit close to “home” for me:

Boeing is test growing halophytes, a salt-tolerant energy crop, in the United Arab Emirates as part of its renewable fuel supply development.

Personal Electronics

An write-up on intercity bus travel at New Geography caught my attention with this tidbit:

The growing prevalence of portable electronic technology, such as laptops and cellphones, gives intercity bus a new competitive advantage over air service and driving.

As portable electronic devices become more affordable (wider adoption) I think you’ll see more impetus to get out from behind the wheel of automobiles. People will start asking themselves, “If I can travel in such a manner that lets me use my iPad to read/browse the web/watch a movie/play a game then why drive my self?”

Responding to Incentives

We should assume that consumers act rationally given the incentives that they face. Repealing the policies that have shaped current behavior such as undervalued public parking, density restrictions, and tax breaks for homeowners will result in people moving closer to their work places and driving less.

Emily Washington at Market Urbanism has a great piece on the long commutes that so many people choose.

I agree with her assumption mentioned above… that is that consumers act rationally based on the incentives in place.

I chose to buy a house and move out amidst the sprawl when I lived in Indianapolis. After getting married and in preparation for having children we bought a house in the suburbs. Government policy favors this decision. Property taxes were lower. Purchasing the house gave us a smaller payment than rent in the city.

After living there for a few years gas prices started rising. My wife drove a Honda Civic, but I drove a 4×4 Toyota truck. I finally broke down and bought another Honda Civic for my commute.

Why? Why didn’t I move closer to my office? Why didn’t I move closer to one of the bus routes? Because the government subsidizes the road infrastructure. Zoning laws promote low-density sprawling suburban developments. Tax law gives an advantage to those who take out a mortgage to buy a home.

I think governmental incentives, and all their unintended consequences, are responsible for the so-called “irrational” decisions made by people when it comes to residences and commutes. Am I silly for thinking that, if governmental incentives are removed, people will naturally move into more dense housing areas that reduce their commute and travel times.

Intermodal Growth

Eastern U.S. railroads CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway each planned to hold groundbreaking ceremonies Monday on separate intermodal hub construction projects.

Progress in removing trucks from the highways and moving freight more efficiently.

Increase in Parked Railcars

The latest figures leave 18.4 percent of the North American railcar fleet stored instead of in active freight service, up from 18.2 percent on May 1. Although that is far below the 31.9 percent stored fleet when at the depth of the recession in June and July 2009, the AAR says when the industry is healthiest only 2-3 percent of available railcars would be idle.

Hopefully this isn’t the start of a trend.