Cargo nets help airline, reduce fuel, emissions

While flights that are full with passengers or freight reflect a successful and sustainable customer base, flights that are heavyweight pose problems. More weight equals more fuel used by the aircraft; more fuel consumed in flight equals more CO2 emissions. Anything an airline can do to reduce weight will save money and reduce greenhouse gases. The merger of two major European airlines in 2004 created heavy hitter Air France-KLM, which focuses on three core businesses: passenger transport, cargo and aircraft maintenance. Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo joined forces with AmSafe Bridport, a leading aviation restraint company, and Royal DSM, parent company of DSM Dyneema, maker of Dyneema®, “the world’s strongest fiber™,” to make a revolutionary lightweight cargo net that achieves fuel and CO2 reductions.

Cargo nets wrapped around pallets restrain freight movement and reduce damage during transit. Most nets made of PET fiber weigh approximately 39 pounds. The new lightweight nets made with Dyneema (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) fiber weigh 19 pounds, while providing sufficient strength to achieve comparable cargo stability. Just one lightweight net saves 210 gallons of kerosene fuel and reduces CO2 emissions by 2.5 metric tons per year. After several years of testing and development, AmSafe Bridport delivered the first lightweight cargo net to Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo in July. Read more.