April Fool's - Helium - state-of-the-art money-saving feature

http://westjet.com/helium - April 1, 2011 - WestJet today introduced a new state-of-the-art money-saving feature on board all flights aimed at countering the rising price of jet fuel. Effective today, WestJet will be using air mixed with helium in the ventilation system to lighten the weight of the aircraft.

Helium is approximately 85 per cent lighter than nitrogen, which accounts for 80 per cent of the air we breathe. With a maximum takeoff weight of more than 150,000 pounds, adding helium to the air mix will provide fuel savings of approximately three to four per cent on board WestJet's Boeing Next-Generation 737s. This will, in turn, allow WestJet to pass the savings on to its guests.

"As a low-cost airline, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to keep our costs low," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet's Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. "We have been working with our aviation partners to determine the feasibility of this initiative and we are every excited that it has come to fruition."
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Closed Caption:

hi I'm Richard Barton with West
communication team we're here in our
calgary hangar facility in the
background here you see one of our
737-800 series aircraft we have an
exciting new initiative that launches
today and I'd like to tell you a little
bit more about it
effective today on all our aircraft will
be introducing helium to the air mix to
make those planes later so come on along
with me and I'll tell you a bit more
about it as Canada's low-cost airline
we're always looking for innovative ways
to make sure that we can pass the
savings on to our guests and that the
announcement today is no exception
what we're doing is putting helium on
board all the aircraft making them later
come on board let's take a look nicer
the science behind all of this really is
quite simple
helium is eighty-five percent lighter
than nitrogen and of course nitrogen
makes up more than eighty percent of the
air we breathe so by introducing helium
into the air makes onboard the aircraft
we can make the plane later
so you're going to see air coming in of
course the events here air coming in
through the vents down here and that air
will be mixed with helium and for
planning that weighs more than 250,000
pounds at takeoff anything we can do to
make the plane lighter means we burn
less fuel and if we're burning less fuel
that means you're sitting down here
relaxing you're saving money
it's what you just sit back relax and
let the helium do the work
ladies and gentlemen happy april three
good below for your apron for savings on
fire with and have a baby