Boeing, Nasa look to flying geese in chase for jet-fuel savings

Chicago

BOEING Co and Nasa have found an inexpensive way to cut airline fuel bills by borrowing a trick from the world's greatest long-distance aviators: migratory birds.

By lining up cruising aircraft in a V-shaped formation favoured by Canada geese, carriers would be able to produce a leap in efficiency without investing in structural makeovers or futuristic technology. The idea is to link the flying convoys safely using navigation and collision-avoidance tools that already are widely installed in cockpits.