Qantas B737-800 services into and out of Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and Mount Isa Airports will become more fuel-efficient when the airline this week commences proving flights utilising Required Navigation Performance (RNP) technology.

Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Chris Manning said the Qantas Group was a pioneer of this technology in the Southern Hemisphere.Qantas has been operating the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approved flight trials into other Australian airports at Sydney, Canberra, Gold Coast, Townsville, Hobart, Ayers Rock Uluru and Alice Springs since 2006. We have also been operating flights to Queenstown, New Zealand, since September 2004.

Required Navigation Performance procedures utilises Global Positioning System (GPS)technology to optimise flight approach and departure tracks, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, enhancing safety and providing access to airports in reduced weather conditions. Captain Manning said RNP technology provided: