Qatar Airways will incorporate Boeing Wind Updates into its aircraft to maximise in-flight operational efficiency
The updates provide customised, real-time wind and temperature information to an aircraft, allowing flight management to predict the trajectory of a plane during pre-flight operations.
The service also allows continuous in-flight optimisation by providing tailored wind information for flight crews. Boeing Wind Updates will be integrated in all Qatar Airways Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Boeing and Qatar Airways announced a five-year agreement to provide the in-flight service.
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said, "We are pleased to upgrade our wind uplink capability by integrating the Boeing Wind Updates service into our operations, to properly predict and measure current wind conditions. This service will provide us with a means to reduce fuel burn and increase routing efficiency."
Boeing Wind Updates will be constructed using leading technology and Boeing-developed algorithms to select wind and temperature information specific to each flight's trajectory. It will also consider wind conditions for every flight.
The service also integrates with existing aircraft communications technology and systems, meaning it does not require additional regulatory clearance. Operators can save fuel from improved flight planning, optimised cruise speed, cost-index performance, improved altitude selection, top-of-descent advisories and efficient descent trajectories.
