AirBaltic became the first to fly the new Required Navigation Performance with Authorization Required (RNP AR) high-precision flight approaches at Riga Airport with the company’s Airbus A220-300 aircraft fleet.

The procedures enable more efficient arrival routes and contribute to saving fuel, further cutting CO2 and noise emissions, according to airBaltic news release.

Pauls Calitis, airBaltic chief operations officer said, “RNP AR requires special aircraft equipment, training for pilots as well as authority permission. We received the permission from Latvian CAA and also played an essential role in support Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme in the development of these procedures. Our Airbus A220-300 fleet is equipped with the RNP AR technology, the crews have undergone special training and we are committed to support the environment and with it the efficiency within the Latvian airspace and in particular at our home base at Riga Airport.”

In 2014, airBaltic in cooperation with consortium partners AirbusProSky and Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme completed the AMBER project under the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE). The project enabled operation of Europe’s first green flights for turboprop aircraft by introducing a satellite-based approach and served a foundation for future efficiency projects. As a result, estimated annual impact amounted to 1,100 tons less CO2 and 350 tons less fuel burned.