MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 13, 2015— Yesterday FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) was pleased to host Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi in Memphis, TN. FedEx Express President and CEO David J. Bronczek, Executive Vice President of Air Operations Jim Parker and Senior Vice President of Flight Operations Captain Paul Cassel welcomed Huerta and Rinaldi for a discussion on the safety and efficiency advances of the NextGen Wake Turbulence Recategorization (Wake RECAT) program and a tour of operations.
The visit preceded Valentine’s Day, which is the second busiest period of the year for FedEx, offering a unique view on the impact of the Wake RECAT program. Wake RECAT has succeeded in decreasing runway taxi times and safely increasing the number of take offs and landings at the airport. Just as Valentine’s Day brings people closer together, the NextGen Wake RECAT program is safely bringing aircraft closer together – saving time and fuel while lessening aviation’s carbon footprint.
“We are extremely pleased that the FAA selected Memphis International Airport as the first site to implement the NextGen Wake ReCategorization Project,” said Bronczek. “We are also very proud of the great work that’s been done between the FAA, the Air Traffic Controllers and the FedEx Express Air Operations team to implement the project.”
At Memphis, where controllers started using Wake RECAT in November 2012, the rate of aircraft arrivals has improved by 20 percent. FedEx Express has approximately 250 flights arriving and departing from the Memphis Airport every weekday. At the busiest times of day FedEx has a flight arriving every minute and one flight departure every 42 seconds. Wake RECAT has aided FedEx in saving 3.3 minutes per flight in taxi-out time and 2.6 minutes per flight – precious minutes that, amplified by every flight flown over days, weeks and months, add up to significant time savings for FedEx and FedEx customers.
Additionally, Wake RECAT has allowed FedEx to burn 4.18 million gallons less fuel each year and emits 39,992 less metric tons of CO2. This is the equivalent of taking 8,421 cars off the road or the energy used by 3,650 homes per year.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $47 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.