LUFTHANSA PUTS ITS
AIRCRAFT INTERIORS ON A
DIET FOR LOWER FUEL USE
SPECIAL REPORT: AVIATION
BIOFUELS ARE TAKING FLIGHT
AROUND THE WORLD
AVIATION AND CLIMATE
CHANGE: MAPPING GLOBAL
COMMITMENT TO ACTION
WINGS OF A DIFFERENT KIND:
EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT
INSTALLS WIND TURBINES
FACTS & FIGURES: IF
AVIATION WERE A COUNTRY,
IT WOULD RANK 21st IN GDP
PAGE 3
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BACK PAGE
Green Flight Times
Environmental news from across the aviation industry
Emissions-reducing iFlex
flight route trial a success
MONTREAL – The International Air
Transport Association (IATA) has announced
the successful completion of the first iFlex
trial between Johannesburg and Atlanta.
The iFlex concept provides for a greater and
more flexible choice of routes on long-haul
operations which cross multiple flight information regions to deliver shorter flight times,
improved, fuel efficiency and reduced CO2
emissions while maintaining safety.
With iFlex airlines will be able to fly more
optimum routings that take maximum advantage of wind conditions. While airlines have
long planned flights considering wind conditions, air traffic management restrictions often limited flexibility within fixed corridors
on parts of routings. The innovation that iFlex
brings is the flexibility to extend this practice
consistently across the entire journey.
Delta Air Lines reported that the implementation of the iFlex concept between Johannesburg and Atlanta resulted in average
time saving per flight of eight minutes, equating to 900 kg of fuel and 2.9 tonnes of CO2.
Annualised and on the basis of two daily
flights, this translates to savings of some 100
hours of flight, 690 tonnes of fuel and a reduction of 2,150 tonnes of CO2 emitted.
A more flexible routing structure also provides a safety benefit in that airlines have
more options to avoid adverse weather. Routing decisions can be taken at the planning
stage to avoid potential tactical en-route deviations that can significantly increase controller and pilot workload. The additional
benefit of leveraging route flexibility to avoid
weather is that it also can reduce the need for
carriage of contingency fuel.
The iFlex implementation did not change
existing air traffic management procedures,
separation standards or communication, navigation or surveillance requirements. In certain areas, short cuts (direct routings) given
by different air traffic control authorities, on
a day-to-day basis, were formalised. This formalisation provides better situational awareness for all airspace users.
The iFlex initiative is the culmination of
eight months of work between IATA, the
International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), the Agency for Aerial
Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar,
CAA’s in Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Antilles Guyane, Cabo Verde, Delta Air Lines and
Emirates Airline. The routings were made
available to all operators as of 25 August.
Several projects in the Asia-Pacific region have similar goals. For example, IATA
is working to introduce more flexible routes
over the Pacific that will shorten flying times
by 10 minutes and save 750,000 tonnes of
CO2.
Speaking at the
Greener Skies 2011
conference in Hong
Kong, IATA Director
General Tony Tyler
said, “Along with the
air traffic management mega-projects
of NextGen in the
US and the Single
European Sky with
its promised 16 million tonne CO2 reduction, it is time for Asia
to start thinking of a Seamless Asian Sky. The
region is growing rapidly. Coordinated efforts
now by industry and government will avoid a
future mess that will be costly to fix.”
GENEVA – Since the beginning of the
jet age, aviation has been using basically the
same type of fuel: Jet A-1. It is produced from
fossil oil and last year it cost airlines $140
billion to buy. It also released 649 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
- around 2% of the world’s man-made CO2
emissions. The last decade has seen the aviation sector unveil a large number of projects,
technologies and operational efficiencies to
bring down the amount of fuel it consumes
and the emissions it produces.
But the fuel has remained the same. Until
now, that is. On 1 July 2011, airlines received
approval from the global standards agency
ASTM International that they can use up to
50% biofuel made from the Hydrotreated Renewable Jet (HRJ) process blended with conventional jet fuel on passenger flights. This
followed an earlier ruling that biofuel made
from a Biomass to Liquid (BtL) process was
approved for commercial flight.
“It has been a busy three years,” says Paul
Steele, Executive Director of the Geneva
based Air Transport Action Group, “From a
position where many thought it could not be
achieved for technical reasons in 2007, we
are now seeing airlines running passenger
flights on biofuels and a whole industry being
developed to supply airlines.”
“The endorsement of this specification is
significant for all consumers of jet fuel, bringing the airline industry one step closer to of
widespread production of cleaner, alternative
fuels that will help meet our environmental
goals while enhancing the security and competitiveness of our energy supply,” said ATA
President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio.
Road transport has had access to biofuels
for a number of years, but this was the ‘firstgeneration’ producing an ethanol fuel unsuitable for aviation use. “Apart from the technical inability to use first-generation sources of
biofuel, there were well publicised impacts
on food security and land use from those
biofuels. We are determined not to repeat the
same mistakes and so the biofuels we are using will be quite different to road transport,”
said Steele.
The fuel, which could bring carbon dioxide savings of around 80% over current fuel,
will be produced from a portfolio of different
feedstocks. Some, like camelina and jatropha are non-food crops, which can be grown
in conditions where food crops cannot be
grown, or in rotation with food. Others, like
algae, can be grown in conditions unsuitable
for food. There are also a number of projects
looking at utilising waste streams – forestry,
agricultural and municipal organic waste can
all be used to produce biofuels for aviation.
In fact, 13 airlines have signed agreements
with Solena, a US-based bioenergy company,
to build plants in London, California, Rome
and Sydney. Each plant is expected to convert
500,000 tonnes of household organic waste
into 16 million gallons of jet biofuel each
year. For British Airways, one of the airlines
involved, this would provide enough fuel to
power its operations at London City Airport
each year.
Dutch airline KLM feels so confident of
the role biofuels will play in the future of
aviation, that it has set up a subsidiary company, SkyNRG, which will produce and supply biofuel to any airline. This company has
already supplied KLM, Finnair and Thomson
Airways with fuel from used cooking oil for
passenger flights. Other flights, undertaken
by Lufthansa, Interjet and Aeromexico, have
used fuel from other sources.
Continues Page 4
Aviation’s
energy
revolution
takes off
iFlex trial
iFlex route 31 June 2011
Reduced flight time by 17
mins, saved 7 tonnes of CO2.
Pre iFlex route
Atlanta - Johannesburg
iFlex route 15 August 2011
Reduced flight time by 13 mins
and saved 5 tonnes of CO2.
iFlex route 28 July 2011
Reduced flight time by 11 mins
and saved over 4 tonnes of CO2.
LATEST NEWS
Boeing, ANA Celebrate First 787 Dreamliner Delivery
EVERETT – Boeing celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner to launch customer
ANA on 26 September during a ceremony next to the factory where the aircraft was assembled.
More than 500 employees representing the 787 programme walked alongside the all-new jetliner to present it to ANA executives as a crowd of thousands looked on. During the ceremony,
Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh presented a ceremonial key to Shinichiro Ito,
CEO of ANA. Made from composite materials, the 787 provides airlines with unprecedented
fuel economy and low operating costs and features a host of new technologies that greatly
enhance the passenger experience.
This publication is a digest of press releases and other announcements issued by partners across the aviation industry from May October 2011. It is not fully comprehensive, but provides a snapshot of the work being undertaken around the world by all parts of
the aviation industry. Readers are encouraged to visit http://newswire.enviro.aero for the latest environmental news.
Edition #6
www.enviro.aero
May - October 2011
Produced by ATAG
Main image: Camelina plants
Top to bottom insets: Salicornia, Jatropha
and Algae all provide potential sources of
feedstock for aviation biofuels.
Printed on 100% recycled paper.
Instead of simply recycling this paper yourself,
pass it on to someone else first.
Copyright © 2011
Air Transport Action Group
Geneva, Switzerland
2 NEWS
Green Flight Times
May - October 2011
Honeywell and Safran joint venture
to launch new green taxiing system
PARIS – Honeywell and French aerospace
leader Safran have signed a memorandum of
understanding to create a joint venture company to deliver an innovative new electric
green taxiing system for new and existing
aircraft. Honeywell and Safran expect it to
be installed on new aircraft and retrofitted on
to existing planes, beginning in 2016.
The new taxiing system will significantly
improve airline operational efficiency and
provide environmental benefits by slashing
the carbon and other emissions created during runway taxi operations.
Taxiing burns a significant amount of fuel
– current industry analysis indicates that the
world’s short-haul aircraft consume five million tonnes of fuel per year during taxi operations. The new electric green taxiing system
offered by the Honeywell-Safran joint venture company will save customers up to 4%
of the total fuel consumption – all while providing green benefits that significantly reduce
the carbon and other emissions produced by
taxiing at ground level.
Honeywell and Safran will leverage the
plane’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) genera-
tor to power electrical motors in the aircraft’s
main wheels without using main engines during aircraft ground operations, thereby cutting costs, emissions and reliance on fossil
fuels.
The new partnership capitalises on the
two companies’ complementary product
strengths – Honeywell’s auxiliary power
experience and Safran’s world-class landing
gear systems. Both companies will contribute expertise in electric power, mechanical
systems and systems integration, as well as
their combined well-established credibility
for innovation.
Aircraft equipped with this new electric
green taxiing system will be able to “pushback and go” more quickly thus reducing
gate and tarmac congestion, improving on
time departure performance and saving valuable time on the ground.
Fuel savings are not the only operational
cost this aircraft electric green taxiing system
will address. The system will eliminate the
need for tugging and associated equipment
costs, and it reduces both brake wear and
taxes based on carbon emissions.
Airbus and DLR test autonomous taxiing
TOULOUSE – Airbus is strongly engaged in developing greener aircraft and increasing the
eco-efficiency of its modern product line. One of the most promising contributors for emission
free ground operation is fuel cell technology. Together with its research partner DLR, Airbus
is examining the potential of this technology, its integration into the aircraft and has already
successfully performed the first flight test on a civil transport aircraft in 2008, where a fuel cell
system provided power for the aircraft’s back-up systems.
In order to gain more details on the potential of fuel cell technology as supply for electric
power in aircraft ground operation, a DLR designed technology demonstrator has been installed in the DLR owned A320 fuel cell test aircraft at the Airbus site in Hamburg. The technology demonstrator consists of a fuel cell powering an electric motor which drives the nose
landing gear wheels allowing the aircraft to taxi autonomously. The objective of these tests is to
further validate the potential of the integrated fuel cell technology for powering future aircraft
functionalities such as autonomous taxiing.
The data collected in the tests will be analysed by Airbus and the DLR to further develop the
overall integration of this technology and potential further optimisation possibilities.
GE Aviation
study shows
potential savings
for airlines
WASHINGTON – Airlines could save at
least $65.6 million annually while slashing
carbon emissions and cutting flight times by
implementing new flight paths at 46 mid-size
airports across the US, according to study results released by GE Aviation. The findings
of the study, Highways in the Sky, come at a
critical time in the debate on the future of our
aging national air traffic control infrastructure, where additional investment is increasingly measured against proven benefits to the
economy, environment and the traveller.
GE’s Highways in the Sky study illustrates
the potential for significant economic and environmental benefit of near-term deployment
of Required Navigation Performance (RNP)
landing approaches. Although the study focused on 46 mid-sized U.S. airports, the data
and analysis supports accelerated deployment
of RNP at any airport. GE’s study of the 46
airports concludes that deployment of RNP
instrument arrivals would annually save:
• nearly 13 million gallons of jet fuel, or
over 500 round-trip flights from New
York to Los Angeles;
• $65.6 million, a saving equivalent to the
full-time salary of 1,573 middle-class
jobs;
• 274.6 million pounds of CO2, equal
to the carbon absorbed every year by
1,384,095 trees; and
• 747 days of flight time, or roughly two
years and 17 days in the sky.
“We are facing a serious global challenge
as air traffic increases and our skies become
more and more congested,” said Lorraine
Bolsinger, President and CEO of GE Aviation
Systems. “This is an opportunity to provide
tangible benefits to every stakeholder; responsible growth of an essential industry, better
asset utilisation, lower fuel burn and cost for
airlines, greater throughput for airports and
ANSPs, fewer delays for passengers, lower
emissions and noise for communities and reduced dependence on foreign oil.”
RNP technology allows aircraft to fly
precisely-defined trajectories without relying
on outdated, ground-based radio-navigation
signals. Independence from a fixed, ground
based infrastructure, linked with the inherent
precision of satellite navigation and advanced
computer technology aboard the aircraft allow the creation of shorter, more consistent
and more efficient flight paths. The consistency and efficiency of the new flight paths
can reduce flight delays helping to alleviate
costly air traffic congestion. ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, has
predicted that efficiencies made possible by
RNP alone can cut global CO2 emissions by
13 million tonnes per year.
In many locations around the world, RNP
is already demonstrating significant benefits.
In Brisbane, government sponsored trials
demonstrated that RNP instrument approach
procedures saved aircraft operators 882,000
pounds of jet fuel a year, even though only
18% of the aircraft were capable of flying the
procedures. Based on those results, Airservices Australia is implementing RNP at 28
airports nationwide, which it expects will
save operators nearly 86 million pounds of
jet fuel each year.
Boeing launches efficient 737 MAX
SEATTLE – The Boeing Company
has launched the new engine variant of the
market-leading 737, based on order commitments for 496 airplanes from five airlines and
a strong business case.
The new 737 family will be powered by
CFM International LEAP-1B engines optimised for the 737. Deliveries are scheduled
to begin in 2017.
“Customers tell us they want to improve
profitability and fuel efficiency while reducing their environmental footprint,” said
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and
CEO Jim Albaugh. “This solution meets all
three of those needs.”
When compared to a fleet of 100 of today’s
most fuel-efficient airplanes, this new model
will emit 277,000 fewer tonnes of CO2 and
save nearly 175 million pounds of fuel per
year, which translates into $85 million in cost
savings.
The Next-Generation 737 programme has
continuously improved the products, features
and services that provide increasing value to
customers. Today’s Next-Generation 737s
are up to 7% more fuel-efficient than the first
airplanes delivered in 1998. Boeing forecasts
global demand for more than 23,000 airplanes
in the 737’s market segment over the next 20
years at a value of nearly $2 trillion.
Airbus advances A320neo date
TOULOUSE – In December 2010, Airbus
announced a decision that had been a talking
point in industry circles for 18 months – the
go ahead to offer new fuel saving engines as
an option for its best-selling A320 Family.
Airbus has received a total of 1245 orders
and commitments for A320neo Family aircraft from 22 different customers, and has
responded to this market reception by bringing forward the entry-into-service date from
2016 to October 2015.
As new engine technologies become available in the middle of this decade, Airbus is
committed to providing its customers with
the latest and most eco-efficient technologies to reduce environmental impact while
improving aircraft performance.
Known as the A320neo Family, (neo for
‘new engine option’), this new development
will also incorporate fuel-saving large wing
tip devices called Sharklets and also bring
significant emission reductions and improved
payload-range. The new engine options are
CFM International’s LEAP-X engine and
Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G engine. The neo will be offered on the A319,
A320 and A321. The new models will have
over 95% airframe commonality with the existing models of the A320 Family, making it
an easy fit into existing fleets. Limited modifications, primarily to the wing and pylon areas will be incorporated.
Airbus’ new “Sharklet” large wingtip devices, specially designed to enhance the ecoefficiency and payload-range performance
of the A320 Family, will be delivered on
current A320s from the end of 2012, to be
followed by the other A320 Family models
from 2013.
The A320neo will deliver significant fuel
savings of up to 15%, which equates to up
to 3,600 tonnes of CO2 savings annually per
aircraft. A320neo will also offer a doubledigit reduction in NOx emissions, reduced
engine noise and typically up to 500nm (900
km) more range or two tonnes more payload.
“We are confident that the A320neo will be
a great success across all markets and with
all types of operators, offering them maximum benefit with minimum change. We are
leveraging a reliable, mature aircraft and are
making it even more efficient and environmentally friendly.” said Tom Enders, Airbus
President and CEO.
Aircraft end-of-life
design discussed at
AFRA annual meeting
Embraer and GE Aviation in biofuel trials
São José dos Campos – Embraer and GE held a series of biofuel test flights with an
Embraer 170 jet flying from the company’s Gavião Peixoto facilities. The purpose of the tests
was to benchmark the operational characteristics of the aircraft and its GE CF34-8E engines
when powered by HEFA (Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids) fuel under a broad range of
unique flight conditions. The flights involved powering one of the two GE engines with a mix
of 50% HEFA (derived from camelina) with Jet-A.
Following the recent approval of biomass-based HEFA fuels by ASTM, Embraer and GE
have stepped up their efforts with the objective of supporting the development of a broader
range of sustainable biofuels for aviation. With these tests, both companies confirmed that
technical plans and procedures for future fuels testing are robust, enabling value-added and
timely testing of additional fuels.
“We have a strong and longstanding commitment to developing efficient and environmentally responsible products. This series of tests, and their very positive results, gives us a lot of
new information to continue our sustainability program as it relates to future products,” said
Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President of Engineering and Technology. “Supporting
the development and deployment of sustainable aviation biofuels is one of the industry’s top
priorities, and we are firmly engaged in that effort.”
The series of flights, which happened in August 2011, set the stage for further biofuel development programmes that Embraer and GE will undertake with fuel produced from additional
feedstocks and production pathways under consideration by the industry. These fuels are currently under study by fuel providers worldwide, including many in Brazil.
WASHINGTON – Dr Andy Clifton,
Sustainable Development Manager at RollsRoyce, speaking at the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association’s (AFRA’s) Annual Meeting in Washington, stressed the importance
of integrating end-of-life planning into the
product design process.
Dr Clifton described how the engine manufacturer is investigating both methodologies
and technologies for evaluating likely disposal scenarios for their products. These are
intended to support efforts to retain the maximum amount of material within the supply
chain and minimise the environmental and
economic impacts associated with product
end of life.
Dr Clifton told the conference: “In considering the end-of life of aerospace products
the key issue is not simply reducing waste but
ensuring that the maximum amount of strategic materials possible is retained in the supply chain and continues to contribute to the
sustainability of the aerospace industry.”
Dates announced for Aviation &
Environment Summit 2012
GENEVA – The Air Transport Action Group has announced that the next global Aviation & Environment Summit will take place in Geneva on 21 and 22 March 2012. The
event, widely seen as the premier gathering of aviation industry environmental leaders,
will take place just a few months before the United Nations Rio+20 Earth Summit. For
more information, visit www.enviro.aero/summit.
Green Flight Times
The Green Flight Times is published by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG).
33 Route de l’Aéroport, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
www.atag.org | +41 22 770 2672
Publication produced in early October 2011 from press releases issued by partners across the aviation sector. ATAG
bears no responsibility for the accuracy of the content of these press releases which are supplied for information
purposes only. © ATAG 2011
NEWS 3
Supporting a Greener Future for Flight
www.enviro.aero
Thai Airways and Aerothai
join Asia-Pacific flight
efficiency initiative
Virgin Australia to develop unique Australian biofuel
PERTH – Virgin Australia has announced
that it has partnered with Renewable Oil
Corporation, Dynamotive Energy Systems
Corporation and Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel that also has benefits
for the Australian farming community and
the environment.
In a world first, the consortium plans to
use innovative fast pyrolysis technology developed by Dynamotive to process mallees, a
eucalypt tree that can be grown sustainably in
many parts of Australia.
The partnership brings together companies
with special expertise in growing, harvesting
and processing feedstock into aviation fuel to
support the development of a full scale commercial plant in Western Australia.
Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said:
“Over the past few years Virgin Australia has
been working with stakeholders across the
industry to research and develop bio-derived
renewable fuels that can be used to progressively replace conventional aviation fuels.
“We believe this new project has great potential given the results with the technology
and the availability of this unique Australian
feedstock.
“It is also particularly attractive to Virgin
Australia because it aligns with our commitment to supporting the Australian economy
and environment, and encouraging Austra-
Nanotechnology - an ‘easy’ route to
improved fuel efficiency?
Captain Kittivaj Mongkonpruthangkoon, Chief Test Pilot and Flight Officer Naruj
Komalarajun, VP of Operations Support Department pilot Thai’s first ASPIRE flight.
BANGKOK – Thai Airways International
and Thailand’s national air traffic control provider Aerothai have recently joined the Asia
and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE), which is designed to make
aircraft operations more efficient in order to
reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions.
A demonstration roundtrip flight from
Bangkok to Auckland took place in early May
in the form of a ‘perfect flight’, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and be environmentally friendly by utilising the most efficient,
advanced technologies and procedures.
Flight officer Naruj Komalarajun said that
the ASPIRE flight was a good opportunity to
demonstrate Thai Airways’ fuel management
best practices, which the airline has been
implementing since 2008, reducing unnecessary weight on aircraft and reducing carbon
dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions.
In preparation for the flight, operated by a
Boeing 777-200ER, the aircraft underwent an
engine wash to help reduce fuel consumption
by 0.6% and an airframe wash for aerodynamic efficiency.
The airline reported that the best practices
deployed allowed the flight to decrease fuel
consumption by around 2%. The success
of the ASPIRE flight will support flight operation standards that generate effective fuel
consumption and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions.
LONDON – UK-based low cost carrier easyJet announced that it is the first commercial
airline to trial a revolutionary nano-technology coating on its aircraft aimed at reducing drag
and increasing fuel efficiency. The ultra thin coating, already used on US military aircraft, is
a polymer that cross links and bonds to the paint surface and only adds an estimated 4oz to
the weight of the aircraft. The coating reduces the build-up of debris on the aircraft's structure,
leading edge and other surfaces, reducing drag on the surface of the aircraft. The manufacturers
of the coating estimate that it could reduce easyJet's fuel consumption by 1-2%. The airline has
coated eight aircraft and will compare their fuel consumption with the rest of the fleet during
a 12 month trial period.
Lufthansa puts its aircraft interiors on a diet
NEW SEATS
r
kg pe
– 300 aft
aircr
The figures by themselves are impressive: Lufthansa is installing some 32,000 new seats on
more than 180 aircraft in its short and medium-haul fleet – within the space of just one year.
This will create a new travel experience and ensure greater passenger comfort. Importantly, the
new seats will also help the airline reduce emissions. As the newly designed Recaro seats take
up less room than the previous seats, up to two additional rows of seats can be installed on each
aircraft. Lufthansa will thus be able to offer about 2,000 additional seats, which is equivalent
to the capacity of twelve Airbus A320s. In all, Lufthansa is investing about €170 million in its
new cabin as part of a comprehensive programme to revamp the airline’s inflight product.
The new seat is also a real bonus from an ecological point of view. Thanks to the materials
used and the seat’s innovative structure, each row of seats is more than 12 kg lighter than the
previous seat rows. That is equivalent to an almost 30% reduction in weight, which in turns
lowers specific fuel consumption. In spite of the additional rows of seats in the cabin, the empty
weight of a Boeing 737, for example, is thus reduced by more than 300kg. In addition, the Lufthansa Group is pioneering the use of a lighter, chrome-free – and thus more environmentally
friendly – leather for the seat upholstery.
NEW CATERING TROLLEYS
– 28,350
tonnes
CO2 ann
ually
Almost 30,000 new service trolleys will be taken into service on Lufthansa flights over the
next three years. This summer, the airline will begin replacing its previous trolley equipment
with the new Quantum Light Weight Trolley. The new model will not only ease the work process for flight attendants but will also have a positive ecological impact. The introduction of the
Quantum trolley, which is one third lighter than its predecessor, will save about 9,000 tonnes of
kerosene and 28,350 tonnes of CO2 annually. They will be introduced gradually until mid-2014
on all Lufthansa's long-haul intercontinental flights.
A jury of international aviation experts voted the Quantum Light Weight Trolley the most
innovative inflight product and presented the Crystal Cabin Award to Lufthansa in May 2010.
The trolley, which was developed by LSG Sky Chefs, is made entirely of light-weight composites and is the only aircraft cabin service trolley of its kind available on the market. Both the
manufacturing process and the materials used are hitherto unique. The Quantum Light Weight
Trolley is manufactured by Norduyn, a specialist in light-weight materials based in Montreal,
Canada, and an exclusive partner of LSG Sky Chefs.
NEW CARGO AND LUGGAGE CONTAINERS
From autumn 2011, the container fleet at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo will be partially
replaced by new containers made of a light plastic material. The new containers are up to 15%
lighter and therefore also a true benefit for the environment. This means that kerosene consumption can be lowered by about 2,180 tonnes per year and Lufthansa will save 6,867 tonnes
of CO2. A total of 5,000 containers are being replaced. Lufthansa Cargo and Jettainer, a Lufthansa Cargo subsidiary, which deals with the logistics management of the transport containers,
have carried out extensive on-board testing of the new containers, which will be used both for
transporting passengers’ luggage as well as for cargo shipments. All the security and handling
properties were included in the tests. The result: the containers need fewer repairs than conventional transport containers made of aluminium and satisfy all the necessary standards.
hter
15% lig
lian innovation”, Mr Borghetti said.
Dynamotive has invested in excess of $100
million and more than 10 years of work in
developing its fast pyrolysis technology from
bench-scale through to commercial-scale
plants in Canada. The plants are equipped to
make pyrolysis oil for fuels and also produce
biochar, for soil improvement and carbon sequestration.
Already more than 1,000 farmers have
planted mallees in belts on their farms, mainly in Western Australia. Later this year the
partnership will bring a prototype hardwood
biomass harvester to Western Australia for
wide-scale demonstrations.
Renewable Oil Corporation, which identified the mallee tree as a promising biofuel
feedstock, is Dynamotive’s Australian partner
and develops biofuel projects in Australia.
CEO Colin Stucley summed up: “We are
excited about the potential of this consortium.
It offers world-class biofuel technology, and
a unique Australian feedstock. We look forward to supplying commercial quantities of
renewable biofuels for use by Virgin Australia and building this new business.”
The consortium is currently finalising
plans for a demonstration unit that will make
bio-fuels for testing, certification and public
trials. The demonstration unit is intended to
be operational in 2012, followed by the construction of a commercial-scale plant, which
could be operational as early as 2014.
Wings of Phoenix win
Airbus Fly Your Ideas
TOULOUSE – The first prize of €30,000
in Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas 2011 competition
was awarded to Team Wings of Phoenix from
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China) at a ceremony held at the
International Paris Air Show – Le Bourget
today. The team members, along with all the
finalists, will also be offered an internship at
Airbus. The Airbus Fly Your Ideas (FYI) biennial contest challenges students worldwide
to develop new ideas to deliver a more ecoefficient aviation industry for the future.
Team Wings of Phoenix won for their
suggestion of a ground-based wind power
generation system that exploits the wakes of
aircraft generated during takeoff and landing.
Their idea involves the placement of a series
of leaf-shaped devices along the sides of airport runways that are perturbed by passing
aircraft, recovering energy that is otherwise
lost. The team considered the electro-mechanical conceptual design of their ‘leaves’
and the potential to generate electrical power
while meeting airport safety regulations.
The winning team is comprised of: Xinyuan Zheng, Lijun Pan, Xianmei Wu, Xuesong
Liu and Kai Xu.
“To participate in the 2011 Fly Your Ideas
challenge was a great experience for us. We
are very proud to be the winning team and
hope our idea will inspire the industry,” said
Xinyuan Zheng, spokesperson for Team
Wings of Phoenix.
The runner-up prize of €15,000 went to
Team Condor from Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Chile for their proposal
on an alternative design for aerodynamic
speed brakes to recover energy for on-board
reuse.
Spanish team ‘Ecolution’, from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid, was
awarded the Best Video prize for the creative
way they presented their project, the implementation of light-weight natural fibre composites in aircraft cargo containers.
Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO,
said: “Innovation is the essential ingredient for maintaining our industry’s license to
grow, and the Fly Your Ideas competition is a
unique opportunity for students worldwide to
promote their ideas for the sustainable future
of flight. It is also a strong lever to engage
with the next generation of talent who will
push the limits of research and technology
further.”
4 SPECIAL REPORT
Green Flight Times
May - October 2011
Aviation’s energy revolution takes off
Continued From Front Page
“We have seen an exciting uptake of
biofuels for passenger flights since
the ASTM ruling,” says Steele,
“The airlines involved have
been paying more than they
normally would for Jet A-1, but this is in an
effort to help kick-start the supply and use of
jet biofuel.”
“The big challenge for us now is to normalise the use of biofuel in flight, ensure the
quantities needed are there and bring the cost
into line with conventional jet fuel, all the
while ensuring that the sustainability standards are maintained.”
Currently, biofuels for aviation are around
two-to-five times as costly as Jet A-1. “But
when you consider that this is an industry in
its infancy and that airlines could only start
using them a couple of months ago, we have
a long way to catch up with the century-old
fossil fuel industry.”
Steele is confident that with the right assistance from governments and the scaling up
of supply, it won’t be too long before biofuels
are on a par with using normal jet fuel.
The Air Transport Action Group has recently released a publication, Powering the
Future of Flight, which aims to provide governments with pointers as to how they can assist the industry in commercialising aviation
biofuels. The ‘six easy steps’ include:
1) Foster research into new feedstock
sources and refining processes: The industry is unlikely to rely on a single feedstock.
Some feedstocks are better suited to some
climates and locations than others. Therefore,
it is expected that ultimately there will be a
portfolio of biofuel sources developed and a
variety of regional supply chains.
2) De-risk public and private investments in aviation biofuels: Governments
can play a role in reducing the risk involved
in private investors setting up aviation biofuel production through measures such as loan
guarantees, tax incentives, grants and co-financing for pilot and demonstration projects.
They can also provide a level playing field
with biodiesel by providing similar fiscal and
price incentives in order to catalyse establishment of the sector.
3) Provide incentives for airlines to use
biofuels from an early stage: Policymakers
can foster development of aviation biofuel by
recognising the unique role it can have in reducing the aviation’s environmental impacts.
Aircraft cannot use alternative renewable energy sources available to other sectors such as
plug-in, wind, solar or hydroelectric power.
Crafting policies that create a level playing field for biofuels vis-à-vis other energy
sources, and aviation vis-à-vis other sectors,
is a key element in aviation biofuels commercialisation.
4) Encourage stakeholders to commit to
robust international sustainability criteria:
Sustainability standards are being established
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Projects to explore the value chain and sustainability criteria of biofuels for aviation are taking place worldwide.
Here is a small selection of some of the many projects underway.
1
SeaGreen with Cranfield University: algae
biofuels grown in sea water
8
Detroit Airport will devote space around its
airfield to grow aviation biofuel crops
15
Masdar and the aviation industry launch the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Centre in the
United Arab Emirates
2
Solena and British Airways: biofuel for
aviation produced from municipal waste
9
Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest project: biofuels for flight and ground vehicles
16
Aviation industry work with other stakeholders to launch the Qatar Advanced Biofuel
Research Platform
3
EU Flightpath for Biofuels: 2 million tonnes
by 2020
10
Solena and 10 US airlines, through ATA,
sign an agreement for a new biofuel plant
17
Aviation stakeholders and fuel supplier PetroChina work on a project for sustainable aviation biofuels
4
AIREG: German biofuel for aviation project,
airlines and government working together
11
Farm to fly: airlines, government and farmers work explore value chain opportunities
18
Chinese Government and aviation stakeholders launch Joint Laboratory for Sustainable
Aviation Biofuels
5
Romanian camelina value chain project
12
Plan de Vuelo for aviation biofuels
19
Virgin Australia initiative develops biofuel from native eucalyptus
6
Spanish camelina value chain project
13
Jatropha Value Chain project in Brazil
20
Solena and Qantas sign agreement for biofuels made from municipal waste
7
Algae production trial at Madrid Airport with
AENA, Iberia and AlgaEnergy
14
ABRABA: Aviation stakeholders, farmers
and fuel suppliers work together for biofuel
21
Airlines and researchers in Australia and
New Zealand develop biofuels roadmap
that will provide suppliers, investors and customers with clear guidelines as to what is considered to be a sustainable biofuel. Some key
sustainability criteria for aviation fuels could
include the following elements:
• will not displace, or compete with, food
crops or cause deforestation;
• minimise impact on biodiversity;
• produce substantially lower life-cycle
greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels;
• will be certified sustainable with respect
to land, water and energy use; and
• deliver positive socioeconomic impact.
These criteria need to be developed on a
global level for a global industry like aviation
– an airline needs to have the confidence that
a fuel considered sustainable in one part of the
world will be similarly received in another.
5) Understand local green growth opportunities: Sustainable aviation biofuel doesn’t
only bring environmental benefits for aviation,
it can also foster the development of a new industry. Given the diversity of feedstocks that
aviation is considering, there are few places on
earth that could not support some development
of a new, sustainable, energy industry.
6) Establish coalitions encompassing
all parts of the supply chain: Experience
has shown that there are many benefits to be
gained from collaboration across the various
stakeholder groups involved in all aspects of
aviation biofuel production and use. These
groups can bring together parties who have
not traditionally needed to work together, such
as aviation stakeholder, academia, agricultural
audiences, regulators and NGOs. These partnerships can ensure sustainability and value
Powerin
future of g the
flight
The six
easy step
s to
via
chain arrangements are robust.
Steele comments, “Unlike other transport modes, aviation has no clean energy
alternative to liquid fuel available in the
foreseeable future. Therefore, aviation
should be prioritised for biofuel use. So
far, we have achieved much of the progress ourselves. There is confidence that
biofuels can be a very significant part of
every airline’s future. From policymakers, the industry is looking for encouragement and the right set of legal, fiscal and policy responses to ensure this
exciting new energy stream can bear
fruit as quickly as possible.”
• The publication Powering the
Future of Flight can be downloaded from the following website: www.flyonbiofuels.org
ble aviat
growing
a
ls indust
ry
ion biofue
April 201
1
Municipal waste
gets a new life... as
jet fuel in Northern
California
WASHINGTON – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), announced that
a core group of airlines has signed letters of
intent with Solena Fuels for a future supply of
jet fuel derived exclusively from biomass to
be produced in northern California.
Solena’s “GreenSky California” biomassto-liquids facility in Northern California will
utilise post-recycled urban and agricultural
wastes to produce up to 16 million gallons
of neat jet fuel per year by 2015 to support
airline operations at Oakland, San Francisco
and San Jose. The project will divert approximately 550,000 tonnes of waste that otherwise would go to a landfill while producing
jet fuel with lower emissions of greenhouse
gases and local pollutants than petroleumbased fuels.
American Airlines and United Continental
led the development of the agreement with
Solena and were joined by five additional
ATA member airlines – Alaska Airlines, FedEx, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines
and US Airways – and ATA associate member Air Canada in signing the letters of intent,
as well as Frontier Airlines and Lufthansa
German Airlines.
• Solena has also signed agreements with
British Airways to develop a similar plant
in London, Alitalia for one in Rome and
Qantas Airways for a facility in Sydney.
ATA commends initiative to enhance viability of biofuels for aviation
WASHINGTON – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), has commended
the announcement of the US departments of
Agriculture and Energy, and the Navy to invest up to $510 million over three years in
a public-private partnership to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels
as part of the administration’s plan for enabling America’s energy security.

make the fuels commercially viable.
ATA remains committed to doing its part
through its ongoing initiatives, including the
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), the Strategic Alliance for
Alternative Fuels with the US military, and
the Farm-to-Fly programme with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Boeing,
to further the development and deployment
of sustainable alternative aviation fuels.
“The USDA, the Department of Energy
and the Navy are doing what the federal government did in jump-starting the Internet, satellite systems and other backbone infrastructure – working with industry to help make
these ventures self-sustaining,” Calio said.
ergy potential, its rotational crop qualities,
its green house gas reduction potential and
its low water requirements. Camelina is also
indigenous to Romania, and can be readily
farmed and harvested by family farmers.
industry. A later expansion of activities to
the European level remains conceivable at
all times.”
Research and industry in Germany
launch initiative for aviation biofuels
Wayne County Airport Authority, operator
of Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow
Run Airport, has partnered with Michigan
State University Extension Office to grow,
harvest and process bioenergy crops on airport-owned property. This strategic initiative
– the first of its kind in the Midwest – represents a commitment to sustainable aviation in
part through the promotion and development
of aviation biofuels. Together, the airports
have around 1,700 acres of property that is
potentially suitable for bioenergy cropping.
As a participant in this project, WCAA has
leased to MSU Extension three acres of airport-owned land on which biofuel crops have
been planted and will soon be harvested, refined, and tested. The crops planted include
canola and oriental mustard seed.
“With airlines and ground support vehicles at DTW using more than one million gallons of jet fuel each day, it is both
prudent and practical for WCAA to explore alternative means such as biofuels as
a way to reduce the carbon footprint on the
environment,” said Rich Altman, Executive Director for Washington, D.C.-based
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels
Initiative, who serves as a member of the
stakeholders group.
The project is expected to be completed
by February 2012.
“This initiative is crucial to help turn the
promise of advanced aviation biofuels into
reality, enhancing America’s energy security
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while
creating jobs,” said ATA President and CEO
Nicholas Calio.
“We already know how to produce and
safely fly aviation biofuels, so the government
investment will help clear the last hurdle and
BIOFUEL BRIEFS
Airbus and Tarom launch Europe’s
first biofuel ‘value-chain’
Airbus and Tarom airlines together with
a consortium of key stakeholders including Honeywell’s UOP and CCE (Camelina
Company España), have begun a project
to establish sustainable local biojet fuel
processing and production. The Romanianbased project aims to provide a biofuel
made from the camelina plant, as a renewable, sustainable substitute to fossil based
jet fuel. The project is being overseen by a
Romanian-based non governmental organisation and Airbus is acting as the catalyst
in getting the Romanian value chain up and
running.
Once feasibility studies on agricultural,
technological and aeronautical development
and sustainability assessment are complete,
the project will also assess the existing
refining facilities in order to identify the
Romanian production capability. Camelina
is the chosen feedstock because of its en-
Leading German research institutions, enterprises in the aviation field and bioenergy
producers founded the association Aviation
Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany
– aireg. The association will promote science
and research in the area of climate-friendly
aviation fuels, with the overriding emphasis
on sustainability. The initiative aims to create
a sound basis for political decision-making
with regard to the introduction of climatefriendly aviation fuels. Dr. Klaus Nittinger,
President of aireg, said: “With the founding
of aireg, we are at long last bundling national
activities so as to achieve the challenging
emission reduction targets for the aviation
Jet fuels will soon sprout at
Detroit’s airports
@
For further information on
developments across the
aviation industry:
www.enviro.aero
AVIATION BIOFUELS 5
Supporting a Greener Future for Flight
www.enviro.aero
Airlines helping to kick-start the move to biofuels
Since the ASTM International approval of biofuels for use in passenger flights, a number of
airlines have undertaken passenger flights using a biofuel blend. These airlines, paying up to
three times the price of normal jet fuel for these flights, are providing biofuel suppliers with the
confidence needed to think of aviation as their customer of the future. In fact, shortly after the
ASTM International approval came through on 1 July, BioJet International announced that in
‘celebration’ of the approval, and to aid in development of the bio-aviation market, BioJet was
releasing one billion gallons of renewable jet fuel to long-term contracts. “This is a one time
introductory offer made to the commercial aviation industry on special pricing and terms.” The
company said, “Pricing will be fixed at US$2.97 per gallon. Alternatively, the buyer may elect
to index at par with petroleum jet fuel with a US$3.50 cap and US$2.50 floor”.
Commercial airline biofuel flights (as of October 2011)
Airline
Date
Route
Feedstock
Notes
KLM
22 June
Amsterdam –
Paris Charles de
Gaulle
Used cooking oil
200 city pair flights to take
place from September
2011
Lufthansa
15 July
Hamburg –
Frankfurt
Mix of feedstocks
1,200 flights over a sixmonth period
Finnair
18 July
Amsterdam –
Helsinki
Used cooking oil
Flights to continue
throughout 2011
Interjet
21 July
Mexico City –
Gutierrez
Jatropha
Flights to continue
throughout 2011
AeroMexico
1 August
Mexico City –
Madrid
Jatropha
The longest flight so far
and only trans-continental
Thomson
6 October
Birmingham –
Arrecife
Used cooking oil
Daily operations from
2012.
For the most up-to-date list of biofuel flights, visit www.flyonbiofuels.org
Spanish Government, Iberia airlines and
Airbus launch local aviation biofuel initiative
MADRID – The Spanish government,
Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed an
agreement to develop a complete Spanish
‘value chain’ for sustainable and renewable
aviation biofuel for commercial use. Other
key members are expected to join the agreement shortly.
Signatories to the agreement signed in Madrid include Isaías Táboas, Spain’s Transport
Secretary of State, Suárez, Antonio Vazquez,
Iberia Airlines Chairman, and Tom Enders,
Airbus President and CEO.
The agreement promotes and backs initiatives to develop a complete biofuel production
chain for Spanish aviation, using sustainable
resources from production to consumption in
commercial aviation, with special consideration on economic and technical analysis.
“The implementation of biofuels by the
Spanish aviation industry for the development of a complete Spanish “value chain”
is a goal that will reduce our dependency
on fossil energy, make our companies more
competitive by reducing costs associated to
CO2 and create value and wealth in other
sectors of our national economy,” said Isaías
Táboas. “We are fully confident that both, the
public and private sector can cooperate in the
development and implementation of this initiative.”
“Climate change is a major challenge for
our industry. The aviation sector’s ambitious
CO2 reduction target is only possible if biofuels become a reality. Under this initiative,
Iberia brings extensive experience in flight
operations and in aircraft maintenance to perform the necessary tests that will make this
goal a reality”, said Antonio Vazquez.
Airbus’ focus is on providing expertise and
management of the feasibility, life cycle and
sustainability analysis.
“Biofuels are a must for aviation to achieve
our industry’s ambitious CO2 reduction targets. In fact, we believe that biofuels should
primarily be reserved for aviation as our industry has no other viable alternative energy
source,” said Tom Enders. “All industry players including governments have a role in helping to reduce global CO2 emission levels. Airbus is supporting value chains to accelerate the
commercialisation of aviation biofuels.”
The value chain brings together farmers, oil-refiners and airlines to spearhead
the commercialisation of sustainable biofuel
production. Phase one of the project will be
the feasibility study. Phase two, will narrow
down the most promising solutions to a demonstration level, and phase three from 2014
onwards will look at implementation and
scaling up of the production process.
From left to right: Eugenia Llorens, President of SENASA; Tom Enders, President and
CEO of Airbus; Isaías Táboas Suárez, State Secretary of Transport; and Antonio Vázquez,
President of Iberia.
European
Commission,
Airbus, airlines
and biofuel
producers in
biofuel accord
TOULOUSE – The European Commission, Airbus, leading European airlines and
European biofuel producers, have launched
an exciting new industry wide initiative to try
and speed up the commercialisation of aviation biofuels in Europe.
The inititive labelled “Biofuel Flightpath”
is a roadmap with clear milestones which
targets an annual production of two million
tonnes of sustainably produced biofuel for
aviation by 2020. The biofuel will be produced in Europe from European sourced
feedstock material and has the backing of
European Commissioner for Energy, Günther
Oettinger, Airbus CEO Tom Enders, major
European airlines, and a number of advanced
biofuel producers.
The Biofuel Flightpath commits members
to support and promote the production, storage and distribution of sustainably produced
drop-in biofuels for use in aviation and to
reach two million tonnes production and consumption by 2020. It also targets establishing
appropriate financial mechanisms to support
the construction of industrial “first of a kind”
advanced biofuel production plants.
“This is a unique opportunity to create the
first industrial venture ever introducing sustainable biofuels for commercially competitive operations. The Commission therefore
fully supports all efforts in this direction and
will actively contribute to their success. They
are fully in line with our European Strategic
Energy Technology Plan.”, said Oettinger
“Airbus supports the speeding up of the
commercialisation of sustainable biofuels for
use in aviation. Our catalyst role is to bring
together stakeholders such as advanced biofuel producers, airlines and lawmakers in
value chains, in order to achieve this common goal more quickly. Only by working
together can we meet our ambitious target
to make air transportation truly sustainable,”
said Enders.
“The suitability of biofuels for aviation
has been proven, opening an outstanding opportunity to drastically reduce air transport’s
carbon footprint. Deployment of sustainable biofuels will only be possible through a
shared vision and common objectives from
producers, end users and policy makers. With
this ambitious ‘Biofuel Flightpath’, Europe is
giving the right signal for the emergence of a
European supply chain.” Pierre Henri Gourgeon , CEO Air France-KLM.
Algae fuel farm established at Madrid Airport
MADRID – Iberia airlines, Spanish airport
and air traffic control organisation AENA and
AlgaEnergy have unveiled a microalgaebased biofuel production project that will be
established at Madrid-Barajas airport.
The research platform, with an initial budget of more than €600,000, is installed near
Terminal 4 of the airport and became operational in June 2011. The platform will be devoted to research, experimentation, and improving technologies for sequestering carbon
dioxide and for the cultivation of microalgae.
The purpose is to reduce the production costs
of biomass and to achieve profitable biofuel
production.
Spain’s airport and air traffic control
agency AENA granted the site for the platform which will be managed by AlgaEnergy.
Helping to design the platform were scientists from the Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis Institute and from the universities
of Seville and Almeria.
The technological platform will be supplied with distilled water from the Iberia purification plant in its industrial site in the airport complex, and with CO2 from AENA and
recovered at Iberia’s aircraft engine bench
test facility in its Madrid-Barajas maintenance hangars, where it is currently emitted
into the atmosphere. Both AENA and Iberia
will analyse the use of the biofuel obtained to
power airport ground vehicles and aircraft.
The project situates AENA and Iberia at
the vanguard of research into the biological
sequestering of CO2 and into ecological biofuels, whereby they contribute to sustainable
development and environmental protection.
Through photosynthesis, the microalgae
transforms the CO2 it captures as a nutrient
for its own subsistence into an energy source.
In addition, some of the 40,000 estimated
to exist on earth contain fatty acids that can
be converted into biofuel. Research into the
cultivation and production of microalgae biomass at the facility, which needs no soil nor
large amounts of water (recovered waste water can be used) will be aimed at improving
essential aspects of algae-base biofuel that is
rich in fats, from which second-generation
biofuel can be made.
The new research facility will also supply biomass to partners in the CENIT-VIDA
programme (Comprehensive Evaluation of
Microalgae) headed by the utility company
Iberdrola, also a shareholder in AlgaEnergy.
The facility will also be used to develop the
patents of the biological processes AlgaEnergy has acquired from Spain’s CSIC national
scientific research institute. The universities
of Seville and Almeria, world pioneers in this
field, will contribute to the achievement of
the project’s aims via the knowledge acquired
in decades of research into microalgae.
From left to right: CEO of Iberia, Antonio Vázquez; CEO of AENA, Juan Lema; the Secretary
of State for Transport, Isaías Táboas; and CEO of AlgaEnergy, Augusto Rodríguez Villa at
the launch of the Madrid Barajas Airport algae biofuel project.
Sustainability and value chain projects build momentum around the
world: show an industry committed to ‘doing it right’ from the start
SEATTLE, ROTTERDAM and RIO DE
JANEIRO – Boeing has released research
conducted by Yale University’s School of Environmental Studies showing significant potential for sustainable aviation fuel based on
jatropha, an oil-producing, non-edible plant.
The study shows that, if cultivated properly,
jatropha can deliver strong environmental
and socioeconomic benefits in Latin America
and greenhouse gas reductions of up to 60%
when compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.
The Yale study used sustainability criteria
developed by the Roundtable on Sustainable
Biofuels to assess actual farming conditions
in Latin America. Unlike previous studies,
which used theoretical inputs, the Yale team
conducted extensive interviews with farmers
and used field measurements to develop the
first comprehensive sustainability analysis of
actual projects. Boeing is supporting the current Mexican Government roadmap assessment on aviation biofuels, “Plan de Vuelo,”
and this data will contribute to that effort. The
peer-reviewed data is applicable to similar
conditions in Mexico and also provides guidance to Brazilian efforts to develop a commercial aviation biofuels market.
“The invaluable insights provided by this
study will help our airline customers to better
understand the sustainability of this potential
jet fuel source, while also providing solid
scientific data to governments and environmental organisations throughout the region,”
said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Director
of Environmental Strategy Michael Hurd.
Boeing has also joined with the Ecole
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
in Switzerland to establish the Sustainable
From left to right: Joel Velasco of Amyris, Guilherme Freire of Embraer and Billy Glover
from Boeing announce a study of sustainability analysis at the ATAG Latin America
Sustainable Aviation Workshop in Rio de Janeiro in July.
Biomass Consortium, a research initiative
focused on increasing collaboration between
voluntary standards and regulatory requirements for biomass used to create jet fuel and
bioenergy for other sectors. The consortium
will also seek to lower overall sustainability
certification costs.
Currently, there are a number of sustainability criteria being developed for biofuels.
This presents a problem for aviation, which
may have to comply with multiple certification systems as it flies aircraft from one part
of the world to the other. The Boeing-funded
project will pursue a way of smoothing over
the differences in criteria, to make them more
compatible with each other and make life
easier for airlines wishing to use sustainable
aviation biofuels.
Research projects commenced in April
and the scope of work over the next two
years will include projects in China, Africa,
the EU, Latin America, North America and
Australasia. Specifics will be announced as
projects are launched, and more than 10 are
currently in development.
Meanwhile, at the ATAG Latin America
Sustainable Aviation Workshop in Brazil,
Boeing, Embraer and the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) announced that
they will jointly fund a sustainability analysis of producing renewable jet fuel sourced
from Brazilian sugarcane. The groundbreaking study will evaluate environmental and
market conditions associated with the use
of renewable jet fuel produced by Amyris.
Environmental NGO WWF will serve as an
independent reviewer and advisor.
“This study will examine the overall potential for sustainable, large-scale production
of alternative jet fuels made from sugarcane,”
said Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho, leader of the
IDB Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Initiative.
Aviation: global actio
6
The aviation sector has myriad projects already underwa
partnerships involved, th
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Biofuel testing programme
Virgin Atlantic, TAM, Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines,
Japan Airlines, British Airways, KLM and Interjet all help the
development of aviation biofuels by conducting test flights
and on-ground tests between 2008 and 2011.
New fuel saving engine options for A320 Family
Airbus introduce the A320neo aircraft which comes with fuel
savings of up to 15%, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 3,600
tonnes annually per A320neo and reduced engine noise.
New construction techniques and materials
at Suvarnabhumi Airport
In this tropical environment, cooling of the building is undertaken
through the construction materials. The three-layer membrane
stretched over the structure maximises natural light, while
reducing air conditioning power consumption by 50%.
Pioneering hydrogen fuel trial ready for Stansted take-off
Britain’s third busiest airport will be the first UK company to
test a new hydrogen refuelling system for ground vehicles.
NATS’s CO 2 savings
In 2009, UK air navigation service provider NATS air traffic
control efficiency projects saved 25,000 tonnes of CO2
and in 2010 they generated 50,000 tonnes of CO2 savings.
12
Biofuel used in passenger flights
Lufthansa, Thomson Airlines, KLM, Finnair, Aeromexico and
Interjet all operate scheduled passenger flights on biofuels
within a couple of months of airlines receiving approval to fly
on these low-carbon fuels.
13
Finnair to buy first Airbus A321’s with “sharklet”
wingtip devices
Reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by 4%.
Boeing introduces better work practices at major
US production facilities
Reduced CO2 emissions by 31% since 2002.
15
Lufthansa Cargo and Jettainer trial lightweight containers
New lighter containers reduce weight by 20%, lowering fuel burn
by 2,180 tonnes per year and CO2 emissions by 6,867 tonnes.
16
Japan Airlines instrumental in developing
new airline coolant
The new refrigerant, MethaCool, can replace costly dry ice
which also releases carbon dioxide as it evaporates. JAL
expect to reduce CO2 emissions by 2,000 tonnes each
year when introduced across the fleet.
17
18
Iberia, AENA and Algaenergy and on-airport biofuel
production
The partners have establish a research project on improving
technologies for sequestering carbon dioxide and for the
cultivation of microalgae at the Madrid-Barajas airport.
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93 109 113 115
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82
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3
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FedEx opens solar-powered European hub
at Cologne Airport
FedEx now operates five global hubs powered by solar
panels which reduce annual CO2 emissions across
the network by nearly 4 tonnes.
28
Incheon Airport looks towards carbon-neutral airport status
By 2013, Incheon Airport will obtain carbon-neutral status
through several impressive initiatives including renewable
energy initiatives that will save 83 tonnes of carbon emissions.
29
Irish Aviation Authority’s ‘ENSURE’ project
Saving 2.2 million kilometers flown; 14,800 tonnes of fuel;
46,800 tonnes of CO2; and 195,500 minutes of flight time.
30
Lighter trolleys for Lufthansa
The introduction of the Quantum trolley, which is one third
lighter than its predecessor, will save about 9,000 tonnes
of kerosene and 28,350 tonnes of CO2 annually.
31
Eurocontrol’s MUAC implements 142 new direct routes
The new routes being implemented in the Maastricht Upper
Area Control Centre, will in the first phase (during nights and
weekends) save 1.16 million km from being flown per year,
resulting in 12,000 tonnes less CO2 emitted.
32
Qantas introduces energy efficient tri-generation powerplant
Provides power to Qantas jet base, catering facility and domestic
terminal, with the savings in emissions equivalent to 6,000 fewer
cars on the roads per year and and efficiency of 80%.
33
British Airways and Solena Group to build sustainable
jet-fuel plant
Will convert 500,000 tonnes of household waste per year
into 16 million gallons of green jet fuel offering lifecycle
carbon savings of up to 95% compared to current fuel.
34
35
1
European Commission, Airbus, airlines and
biofuel producers in aviation biofuel accord
The initiative labelled “Biofuel Flightpath” is a roadmap with clear
milestones which targets an annual production of two million
tonnes of sustainably produced biofuel for aviation by 2020.
ATRA taxis using fuel-cell powered nose wheel
The use of this fuel-cell powered nose wheel being
developed by DLR and tested on an Airbus A320 will reduce
emissions produced by aircraft at airports by 19 % and
almost eliminate all taxiing noise.
LFV introduces new rules to allow en route traffic
over 9000m to fly most direct route possible
Decrease in fuel consumption of 10 tonnes,
(and over 30 tonnes of CO 2) over a 24 hour period.
Royal Jordanian introduces its first environment
management plan
Projects to reduce pollutants, including aircraft emissions,
ground support equipment emissions, fire extinguishers gas,
aircraft air-conditioning unit use, waste and hazard material.
Irish Aviation Authority and NATS implement functional
airspace block
Flexible route block of upper airspace allows pilots to find their
optimum flight paths, saving 46,800 tonnes of CO2; and night
time fuel saving routes, saving 18,100 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Smarter flying at Birmingham Airport brings
CO2 reductions
NATS, working with Birmingham Airport and airlines,
has saved 13,000 tonnes of CO2 in the last 12 months
with continuous descent approach techniques.
44
Support for aviation biofuels from research and industry
in Germany
Leading German research institutions, enterprises in the aviation
field and bioenergy producers founded the association Aviation
Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany to promote science
and research in the area of climate-friendly aviation fuels.
45
Rolls-Royce launches Trent XWB engine
28% better fuel efficiency in the engine compared to existing
equivalent engines.
46
Iberia Airlines, AENA and Ineco test green approaches
at Madrid-Barajas Airport
The new landing technique saves an average 25%
in emissions and fuel as well as significant noise reduction.
78 136
50 131
48
Heathrow, NATS, Singapore Airlines and Airbus introduce
improved departure procedure for the Airbus A380
Saving of 300 kg of fuel per take-off, equating to one metric
tonne of emissions of CO2 on a flight to Singapore.
43
118
CFM International Tech Insertion engine upgrade
1% better specific fuel consumption over the life of the
engine, which translates to better fuel burn and between
5 and 15% lower maintenance costs.
37
42
94
Lufthansa installs 32,000 new, slim, seats
Each row of seats is more than 12kg lighter than the previous
seat. That is equivalent to an almost 30% reduction in weight,
which in turns lowers specific fuel consumption.
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore green flight
Demonstration flight from Singapore to Los Angeles reduced
flight time by 30 minutes, saving 33 tonnes of carbon emissions.
41
130
47
36
38
26
Boeing delivers package to China Southern Airlines
The 737 was delivered with Boeing’s ‘performance
improvement package’– including a new engine with
the goal of reducing fuel consumption by 2%.
21
Avianca educates staff on environmental responsibility
with Beyond Flying programme
With the goal of reducing fuel consumption, the airline
designed and implemented new operating techniques,
reduced weight on board and optimised its routes and flight
speeds resulting in an annual saving of USD 13 million worth
of fuel in 2009.
100
69
27
SESAR project Atlantic Interoperability initiative
to Reduce Emissions (AIRE)
Over 1,000 flight tests performed suggest that around
400 tonnes of CO2 could be saved annually across the Atlantic.
26
43
99
40
10 airlines help Solena build biofuel facility
The plant, built by Solena, will produce 16 million gallons of
biofuel from municipal waste. American Airlines and United led
the development of the agreement with Solena and were joined
by Alaska Airlines, FedEx, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines,
US Airways, Air Canada, Frontier Airlines and Lufthansa.
The Air Transport Association was also involved in the process.
86
78 121 133
Aviation Partners Boeing blended winglets
As of May 2011, blended winglet technology will have saved
2.5 billion gallons of jet fuel for airlines around the world.
25
11
10
116
20
United Airlines ‘Green Corridor’ demonstration flight
Saved 6,400 pounds of fuel and reduced CO2 emissions
by 20,000 pounds.
117
90
22
96 128
Alice Springs Airport solar power station
Supplies about 28% of the airport’s energy needs while reducing
annual carbon emissions from the airport by 470 tonnes.
24
3
92
25
39
Rolls-Royce two-shaft engine research programme
Reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 15%, compared to similar
engines currently in service. Will also reduce NOx emissions.
75
73
40
31
84
East Midlands Airport willow fuel farm
Produces fuel for a biomass boiler to heat the terminal,
saving 350 tonnes of CO2.
23
1
102
Oakland International Airport building certification
Energy efficiency measures in the new terminal that exceeds
California standards and reduces carbon emissions by 211
tonnes per year while also saving 24% water.
Delta Airlines uses automated flight tracking
and management system
The Attila system provides for real-time efficiency measures
to be implemented on flights landing at Delta’s Atlanta Airport
hub, saving more than 50,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
106
78
19
22
24
68
Sri Lankan Airlines receives ISO14001 environmental
certification for catering facility
Airline’s catering facility reduced electricity consumption by
10% and fuel usage by 40%, among a series of planned
conservation efforts. The company has an Environmental
Excellence Committee which is headed by the CEO.
The first integrated, sustainable bioenergy research
project for aviation pioneering system using seawater
and desert for bioenergy
Boeing, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology,
Etihad Airways and Honeywell’s UOP establish the Sustainable
Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP), which will use integrated
saltwater agricultural systems to support the development and
commercialisation of biofuel sources for aviation.
63
56
AEROTHAI Showcases PBN to Reduce Global Warming
Thailand’s air traffic control organisation AeroThai is implementing
performance-based navigation (PBN) at Suvarnabhumi Airport,
reducing airline fuel consumption by 50.9 million kilograms and
CO2 emissions by over 160,000 tonnes per year.
Greener Skies project with Alaska Airlines, Boeing
and Port of Seattle
Test flight over the Puget Sound reduced emissions by 35%.
The Greener Skies project uses satellite technology to fly more
efficient landing procedures, which could ultimately be used by
all properly equipped carriers at Seattle Airport.
14
126
De-icing fluid can play a role in carbon reduction
Japanese airline ANA will further reduce its carbon footprint
by using a new de-icing fluid during winter operations.
DFsustain uses up to 40% less energy in manufacturing
than traditional fluids.
45
12
129
120
Growth in airports signed up to ACI Europe’s Airport
Carbon Accreditation
Across Europe, 43 participating airports, which together
represent 43% of European air traffic, have reduced CO2
emissions by 411,390 tonnes in the first year and 729,689
tonnes in the second year.
11
14
64
49
Air India to offer EcoPower engine wash solution
to bring down emissions
The Pratt & Whitney technique reduces fuel burn
by an average of 1.2%.
50
CANSO members inspire
The INSPIRE partners (Airports Authority of India, Airservices
Australia and ATNS South Africa) are working together on
projects which will increase the efficiency of long-haul oceanic
flights between their airspace, lowering emissions.
51
Heathrow Airport use of fixed electrical ground power
and pre-conditioned air
Allowing pilots to turn off the auxiliary power unit is saving
an estimated 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year at the world’s
busiest international airport.
52
Air New Zealand get out the scrubbers to reduce fuel burn
Air New Zealand has signed an agreement for Pratt &
Whitney’s engine wash service, which will help the airline
reduce fuel burn by an additional 500,000 gallons per year.
53
Green taxiing means aircraft can avoid on-ground
engine use
R&D project by Messier-Bugatti, a leading supplier of aircraft
landing gears, has identified a technology to allow aircraft
to taxi without the use of engines – generating a 4-5%
reduction in on-ground fuel burn.
54
GE Aviation to deploy RNP at Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport
GE is designing a network of required navigation performance
flightpaths that maximize operational efficiency for airlines
serving the high-altitude airport: shortening the distance an
aircraft has to fly en-route; reducing fuel burn and exhausting
emissions; and lowering noise for communities near airports.
59
Efficient take-offs at Copenhagen Airport
New departure techniques save around 10,000 tonnes
of fuel and 32,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
60
Auckland Airport’s travel plan lifts the bar
Auckland Airport’s travel plan ‘Lift’ reached 1,000 participants.
The scheme offers priority parking permits to people who
register to car-pool. The result: 25% of the Auckland Airport
workforce is involved in car-pooling.
61
Ukraine International Airlines install winglets on planes
Reduce fuel burn by up to 5% and, consequently, reduce
CO2 emissions.
62
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport aquifer cooling and heating
the airport
This natural air conditioning system for the terminal will reduce
the airport’s annual electricity consumption by 4 GWh and its
district heating consumption by around 15 GWh.
63
NavCanada advances efforts to reduce GHG emissions
Canada’s air navigation service provider is implementing a range
of projects which will result in estimated emissions reductions
from 1996-2016 of over 13 million tonnes of GHG emissions.
64
KLM and the World Wide Fund for Nature
KLM has signed a promise to the WWF saying it will reduce
its CO2 emissions by 3% by 2012 and by 17% by 2020.
65
Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G engine
Double-digit reductions in fuel consumption, CO2 and NOx
emissions, engine noise and operating costs with this
new-generation aircraft engine.
66
Southwest Airlines’ “Green Plane”
New seats, new cabin equipment and new carpets save more
than $10 million a year in fuel costs and reduce emissions.
New materials will save about five pounds per seat, or roughly
472 pounds per plane.
67
Spanair introduces single-engine taxiing
Implementation of single engine taxiing on arrival which
leads to a 55.89% reduction over dual engine taxiing.
68
Air Transat head office becomes first building in Canada
to obtain LEED platinum certification
The necessary efforts to obtain the certification have included
reducing energy consumption by 10% and water use by 40%.
69
Copa Airlines leading the use of winglet technology
in Latin America
Copa was the first airline in Latin America to operate the
Boeing 737-700 and -800 aircraft with winglet technology,
improving aircraft performance and reducing fuel
consumption by 3.5%.
55
Boeing 787 testing programme
The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner will reduce fuel use and
emissions by 20% over current model aircraft.
56
Bombardier teams design environmentally-efficient CSeries
New aircraft is built of 70% advanced structural materials,
delivering significant weight savings, which contributes
to the CSeries’ 20% fuel burn advantage.
70
The MINT Project
Swedish Air Navigation Service Provider (LFV), Stockholm
Arlanda Airport, Novair and Airbus work on an advanced arrivals
process that saves on average 518 kg of CO2 per arrival.
57
British Airways and NATS ‘perfect flight’
Proving flight between Heathrow and Edinburgh found
that 1 tonne of CO2 could be saved per flight if implemented
on regular operations.
71
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport carbon neutrality
Independent assessment and recognition of airports efforts
to manage and reduce CO2 emissions. First carbon neutral
airport operator in the world.
58
Honeywell and Safran launch green aircraft taxiing system
The new electric nose wheel system will save up to 4% of
total fuel consumption – while reducing the carbon and other
emissions produced by taxiing at ground level.
72
Zurich Airport reduces CO2 through fixed ground power
Over 30,000 tonnes of CO2 is saved per year through
installation of fixed electrical ground power units at its
50 gates.
on on climate change.
7
ay around the world to reduce emissions. Here we present a small selection from the past two years, illustrating the
he breadth and the scope of this work. As you can see, it truly is a worldwide effort.
More information can be found at:
www.enviro.aero
3
21
62
12
70
13
116 Air France in trans-Atlantic AIRE test flight
This flight, from Miami to Paris, demonstrated that a reduction
of up to 9 metric tonnes of CO2 is available, if the flight is
operated perfectly.
71
117 American Airlines eco-friendly test flight
This perfect trans-Atlantic flight demonstration was part
of AA’s Fuel Smart programme which will save 120 million
gallons of fuel in 2010.
3
118 Renewable jet fuels from Brazilian sugarcane
The study, funded by Boeing, Embraer and the InterAmerican Development Bank, will evaluate environmental
and market conditions associated with the use of renewable
jet fuel produced by Amyris.
3
3
9
44
3
3
78
3
3
3
123
3
87
27
30
83
124
119 Air New Zealand’s Christchurch Engine Centre
to provide EcoPower washes
The Pratt & Whitney system will help Air New Zealand reduce
fuel burn by 500,000 gallons per year by cleaning engines
to operate more efficiently.
61
78
3
3
3
38
78
3
3
120 Alaska Airlines turn to pre-conditioned air
at the airport gate
Through the use of pre-conditioned air units at its five
West Coast US airports alone, Alaska Airlines will reduce
CO2 emissions by 75 million pounds per year.
101
3
3
1
54
41
4
16
110
121 AeroMexico operates ‘green flight’ trial, saves 555kgs CO2
The airline also launched several eco-initiatives on the flight,
including using new lightweight carts, separating organic
and inorganic waste, reducing the amount of onboard
printed materials and using biodegradable bags and hand
soap. The flight also saved 300 kg of CO2 on the ground
at Mexico City and 180 kg at San Jose, Costa Rica.
125
50
103
78 127
34
107
49
138
8
97
28
5
122 Air New Zealand 767-300ERs fitted with winglets
The blended winglets save more than 6 million litres of fuel
and 16,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
140
123 Fuel-efficient flight operations optimisation by Air Berlin
CO2 emissions were reduced throughout the fleet by
reducing the flying speed without a noticeable increase
in flying time, but saving 5,734 tonnes of CO2.
9
6
78
104
124 Turkish Airlines Technic and Pratt & Whitney inaugurate
new LEED engine centre
Designed to meet the gold standard of the US Green Building
Council’s LEED rating system, the centre is built with recycled
material and uses renewable energy sources for a portion of its
energy load. In addition the site is anticipated to reduce its overall
water usage by 40% compared with conventional facility designs.
80
36
125 ANA introduces fuel cell electric passenger
courtesy vehicles
ANA will use electric passenger vehicles to reduce
its CO2 footprint.
88
1
39
52
108
1
60
112
79
73
Rolls-Royce undertakes environmentally-friendly
engine research
A major contribution towards achieving the European
ACARE targets of 50% lower CO2 emissions, 80% lower
NOx emissions and 50% less noise by 2020, all from
a 2000 baseline.
74
San Francisco International Airport’s solar power project
Solar array will contribute 628,000 kilowatt hours of electricity
annually, getting rid of 7,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions over its
30 year life.
75
Schiphol Airport’s research projects
Aims to become carbon-neutral by 2012 and generate
20% of all its energy requirements sustainably by 2020.
76
Orly Airport solar water heating at staff restaurant
Part of the airport staff restaurant’s annual needs are met
by the solar cells, saving 4 tonnes of CO2 a year.
77
Lufthansa’s clean engines
Airline cleans aircraft engines more frequently, which
improves performance and life span. Provides fuel savings
across the entire fleet – translating to 74,000 tonnes less
CO2 per year.
78
79
80
Biofuel value chain and sustainability projects
In order to start the commercialisation of sustainable aviation
biofuels, Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Honeywell have been
joining with other industry partners, governments, biofuel
supply companies and farming communities to develop
value chain projects and ensure that any biofuel purchased
by aviation is sustainable.
88
KLM installs winglets on its 737 aircraft
Winglets are expected to reduce fuel consumption by around
3%, reducing CO2 emissions by an equivalent amount.
90
JFK Airport and JetBlue recycling programme
Approximately 1,500 gallons of spent jet fuel and oil
and some 600 pounds of steel are recycled each month.
91
Airbus-led ‘AIRE2’ trials to spearhead green trajectories
with A380
Airbus is leading the AIRE2 flight trial programme with
their A380 aircraft. Overall it is estimated that each A380
AIRE flight can reduce CO2 emissions by around 3 tonnes,
compared with existing procedures.
93
94
Melbourne Airport’s “SkyCool” roof
Over an 18-month period the SkyCool paint has helped
to save more than 40,000 tonnes of CO2 through a reduction
in air conditioning use.
Kenya Airways launches passenger programme
to cut carbon emissions
Kenya Airways launched a new voluntary carbon offsetting
tool aimed at providing a channel for its customers to
contribute towards reducing the effect of carbon emissions
by supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.
81
Geneva International Airport improving air quality
Fixed electrical ground power systems have been
progressively installed since 2004 and have resulted in an
annual emissions saving of more than 20,000 tonnes of CO2.
82
Heathrow Airport intermodality
An increase in the number of passengers using public
transport to reach Heathrow has removed around 3,000
cars a day from London’s roads.
95
Boston Logan Airport LEED
Using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
principles, the airport has realised 12% energy savings and
36% water savings.
Charles De Gaulle Airport electric transit
The airport transit rail line will cut bus traffic by half saving
750 tonnes of fuel per year.
LAN Airlines introduces RNP at five airports in Peru,
Chile and Ecuador
Required Navigation Performance technology (RNP) is an advanced
form of performance-based navigation that, for a typical airline,
can eliminate an average of 10 nautical miles from the distance
an aircraft flies on its approach to landing, creating significant
reductions in annual fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Continental Airlines’ comprehensive emissions
reduction programme
Reduce emissions and fuel use by 38% through a number
of initiatives including winglet retrofitting on Boeing 737
and 757 aircraft.
96
Dallas/Forth Worth Airport’s air quality improvement project
Reduced NOx and CO2 emissions from 120 tonnes to 15 tonnes.
97
Ethiopian Airlines
Plans to plant two million trees throughout Ethiopia during
the Ethiopian Millennium year.
98
Brussels Airport reaches new level in Airport Carbon
Accreditation scheme
Brussels Airport has reached the ‘reduction’ level, thanks
to its achievement in reducing its own CO2 emissions by
over 10,000 tonnes in the past year.
83
Turkish Airlines undertakes fuel efficiency programme
With the assistance of IATA Green Teams, Turkish saved
over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 in 18 months.
84
IATA route shortening projects
IATA saved 3.8 million tonnes of CO2 in 2007 and 6 million
tonnes of CO2 in 2006 by shortening routes.
85
Iberia takes part in SESAR trails
With enhanced efficiency on routes and the reduction of flight
times, fuel savings of between 6 and 12% are expected.
100 Wind turbines land at East Midlands Airport
The wind turbines produce an estimated 5% of the airport’s
electricity and will save approximately 300 tonnes of carbon
each year.
86
KLM uses environmentally friendly paint
Thinner paint layers mean the aircraft consumes less fuel
and produces fewer CO2 emissions.
101 Joint Boeing and Alenia composite recycling plant
The composite recycling plant is expected to process
an average of 1,102 tonnes of composite scrap annually.
87
Hamburg Airport’s new Terminal 1
Heating and lighting energy requirements were reduced
by 15-20% through a combination of lowering the heating
circulation temperature of the under floor heating and
reassessing illumination needs.
102 Alternative jet fuels sprouting at Detroit’s airports
Wayne County Airport Authority has partnered with Michigan
State University to grow, harvest and process bioenergy crops
on airport-owned property to supply biodiesel for ground
equipment and potentially jet biofuel for aircraft.
99
50
78
122
A billion gallons to help boost the industry
BioJet Corporation, celebrating the approval of HRJ biofuel for
use in passenger flights, released a billion gallons of jet biofuel
onto the market at a fixed price to help kick-start the use of
biofuels by airlines worldwide.
127 Emirates Airlines works with AirServices Australia
on flexible routing
The measure, which allows pilots and flight dispatchers to plot
the best route according to metrological conditions, has saved
10 million litres of fuel over five years.
128 American Airlines introduces single-engine taxiing
The airline estimates it reduces fuel burn by around 15 million
litres a year by taxiing on one engine only.
Singapore Airlines Cargo signs up for EcoPower
engine wash
The airline is one of the world’s largest operators of Boeing
747-400 freighters. The EcoPower engine wash system
reduces fuel burn by as much as 1.2%.
89
92
32
126 NavCanada awarded for ADS-B implementation
The air navigation service provider has installed an ADS-B
system in the Hudson Bay area allowing aircraft to fly shorter
routes and reduce emissions by around 547,000 metric tonnes.
119
129 Bombardier CSeries factory being built to meet highest
environmental standards
The production facility will be LEED certified with layout
and design optimised for efficiency and to minimise
environmental impact.
130 The new Quito Airport is being built with
the environment in mind
Construction is being undertaken in such a way as to minimise
impacts on communities, while the airport also employs
sophisticated stormwater management, fuel management
and wildlife protection procedures.
103 Athens International Airport energy savings
Savings of approximately 6,000 MWh between 2005 and
2007, corresponding to a decrease in energy consumption
of approximately 10%.
104 Malaysia Airports aims to meet, if not beat, global
aviation targets
As part of its aim for carbon neutral growth, Kuala Lumpur
Airport has introduced energy-saving devices resulting in
a reduction in energy use by 39%, with more to come.
105 CANSO, IATA and Eurocontrol flight efficiency plan
The implementation is expected to bring benefits amounting
to a reduction of around 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
106 NavCanada environmental management project
Improved efficiencies achieved through new technologies
and procedures will save 8.4 million metric tonnes of aviationrelated greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2009 to 2016.
107 Asiana Eco Flight demonstration
Emission reduction procedures resulted in a total reduction
of 500 kg of carbon.
108 Developing a truly Australian biofuel
Virgin Australia and its partners will use an innovative technology
to process mallees, a eucalypt tree that can be grown
sustainably in many parts of Australia, for biofuel production.
109 Echo 4 taxiway at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Reduced taxi time by 90,000 minutes and saved nearly
1.1 million litres of fuel during one year.
110 Japan Airlines’ user preferred routes
If UPR were used on all of its flights operating between Japan
and Hawaii Japan Airlines could reduce its CO2 emissions
by 4,700 tonnes.
111 Airbus A380
Aircraft produces less noise and has a fuel burn of less
than 3 litres per passenger per 100 kilometres.
112 Jetstar Airways to contract for EcoPower washes
of its A320 and A321 engines
The EcoPower engine wash system reduces fuel burn
by as much as 1.2%.
113 Air France / KLM hub operations streamlining
Coordinate arrival and departure periods that link small flows
of feeder traffic with intercontinental traffic, establishing the
most efficient operations on the largest possible network.
114 Continental Airlines recycling programme
Continental ensures that more than 87% of its catering
suppliers worldwide have extensive recycling programmes.
115 Aéroports de Paris taps into geothermal energy
Paris Orly Airport has recently drilled a bore hole to gather
naturally heated water to warm its terminal and save
9,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
131 Air Traffic and Navigation Services wins award
for airspace programme
The advanced Air Traffic Flow Management system deployed
by South Africa’s air navigation provider utilises end-to-end
Collaborative Decision Making to efficiently manage around
10% of the world’s airspace while also enhancing safety.
132 IATA iFlex to deliver CO2 savings on ultra-long haul routes
The iFlex initiative will be implemented with airlines flying
exceptionally long haul routes over uncongested airspace and
could reduce emissions by up to 3 tonnes per flight, according
to early modelling.
133 Volaris Airlines’ “Por un cielo azul” programme
This programme, called For Blue Skies, looks at all parts of the
airline’s operations to reduce emissions through fuel efficiency
analysis, cutting water on board by 40% to reduce weight,
recycling and ISO14001 certification.
134 Iberia tests DORIS, saves up to 2% on trans-Atlantic flights
The Dynamic Route Optimisation In Flight project aims to gain
efficiencies in the North Atlantic airspace thanks to improved
communications and flight plans being updated after takeoff,
taking into account changing weather conditions. The first
tests saved around 2% fuel per flight.
135 Los Angeles Airport terminal renovation gains
LEED silver certification
The renovation achieved 20% energy savings and 24% water
conservation over the old terminal building. More than 75% of
construction and demolition waste was recycled or salvaged.
136 Gol Airlines’ Passando Limpo project
An intelligent method for washing aircraft uses only
10% of the water previously used to wash an aircraft.
137 Swiss International Airlines installs new seating
Installation of ultra-light carbon-fibre seats in its short-haul
fleet eliminated over 800 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions each
year. New seats installed on the long-haul fleet will reduce CO 2
emissions by another 2,000 metric tonnes per year.
138 Green buildings and sustainable designs at Hong Kong
International Airport
Terminals are thermally efficient, using modern glass and
building envelopes to reflect heat. Innovative systems cool
only the bottom 3 metres of large open spaces, leaving the
air above at ambient temperatures.
139 Phoenix SkyHarbor Airport energy conservation initiatives
An increased focus on energy conservation resulted in
a 7% decrease in energy use in one year, an 11.2 million
pound reduction in greenhouse gases, savings of more
than 7 million kilowatt hours and more than $200,000.
140 Korean Air Aerospace to manufacture sharklets
for the Airbus A320
The devices are expected to result in around 3.5% reduced
fuel burn over longer sectors, corresponding to an annual
CO2 reduction of around 700 tonnes per aircraft.
8 AIRLINE
Green Flight Times
May - October 2011
Southwest Airlines’ pilots begin flying
new, efficient, procedures at 11 airports
United Airlines launches paperless flight deck with iPad
CHICAGO – United Continental Holdings has announced it is converting to paperless flight decks and deploying 11,000 iPads
to all United and Continental pilots. The electronic flight bags (EFB) replace paper flight
manuals, and as a first for major network carriers, provide pilots with paperless aeronautical navigational charts through an iPad app.
Distribution of iPads began in August, and all
pilots will have them by year end.
“The paperless flight deck represents
the next generation of flying,” said Captain
Fred Abbott, United’s senior vice president
of flight operations. “The introduction of
iPads ensures our pilots have essential and
real-time information at their fingertips at all
times throughout the flight.”
The iPads are loaded with Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck, the industry’s premier app
featuring interactive, data-driven enroute
navigation information and worldwide georeferenced terminal charts. The enhanced
full-color, high-quality information display
ensures the right information is displayed at
the right time.
“We are proud to partner with United
Airlines on a project of this magnitude with
Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck,” said Mark
Van Tine, president and CEO of Jeppesen.
“Jeppesen and United share a long and storied
history that includes development of numerous innovations for the aviation industry. We
look forward to continuing this partnership in
integrating our digital mobile solutions that
increase efficiency, reduce costs and optimise
operations.”
Each iPad, which weighs less than a kilogramme, will replace approximately 17
kilos of paper operating manuals, navigation
charts, reference handbooks, flight checklists, logbooks and weather information in a
pilot’s flight bag. A conventional flight bag
full of paper materials contains an average of
12,000 sheets of paper per pilot. The green
benefits of moving to EFBs are two-fold – it
significantly reduces paper use and printing,
and, in turn, reduces fuel consumption. The
airline projects EFBs will save nearly 16 million sheets of paper a year which is equiva-
lent to more than 1,900 trees not cut down.
Saving 326,000 gallons of jet fuel a year
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 3,208
metric tonnes.
With iPad, pilots are able to quickly and
efficiently access reference material without
having to thumb through thousands of sheets
of paper and reduce clutter on the flight deck.
United and Continental pilots’ work will be
streamlined as they can immediately download updates on iPad to their electronic flight
materials, rather than waiting for paper updates to be printed and distributed.
DALLAS – Southwest Airlines’ pilots
began Required Navigation Performance
(RNP) efficient flight procedures in January
at 11 airports nationwide. This major milestone to reduce environmental impact with
a more efficient operation and to assist the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on
NextGen initiatives is the culmination of a
four-year project with partners Boeing, GE,
and Honeywell.
RNP is satellite-based navigation that
brings together the accuracy of GPS (Global
Positioning System), the capabilities of advanced aircraft avionics, and new flight procedures.
“RNP sets the stage for Southwest to
continue doing its part to conserve fuel, improve safety, and reduce carbon emissions,
while simultaneously taking advantage of the
high-performance characteristics that exist in
an airline’s fleet,” said Captain Jeff Martin,
Southwest’s Vice President of the Operations
Coordination Center.
Southwest’s pilots and dispatchers now
follow these new efficient flight procedures
and enhanced avionics to fly specifically designed satellite-based navigation approaches
to many Southwest airports.
The primary airports with efficient RNP
procedures include Amarillo, Birmingham,
Boise, Corpus Christi, Los Angeles, Chicago
Midway, Oakland, Oklahoma City, West
Palm Beach, Raleigh-Durham, and San Jose.
With RNP/NextGen procedures designed
at 11 Southwest airports, the airline’s projected savings is $16 million a year, with an
anticipated savings of more than $60 million
per year once all Southwest airports have efficient RNP procedures.
“RNP is a significant step in the future for
the NextGen Air Traffic Control system,”
said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest’s Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
“This milestone culminates substantial efforts by our Company working with the FAA
to position Southwest as a leading participant
in a modernised air traffic control system.”
GE Aviation’s flight management system
TrueCourse is providing the technology to
enable RNP.
“TrueCourse enables operators to fly the
most efficient RNP operations available,”
said Chris Beaufait, president of Avionics for GE Aviation Systems. “Southwest is
well equipped and is positioning to lead the
way in the expansive use of these approved
routes realising fuel, emission and noise reductions.”
The TrueCourse flight management system controls the aircraft track to an accuracy
of 10 metres (33 feet) and the time of arrival
to within 10 seconds to any point in the flight
plan.
Benefits include the ability to fly shorter
flight paths and idle-thrust descents which
reduces fuel consumption, thereby lowering
emissions and community noise levels.
Software and hardware updates provide
the latest technology to continue to meet
the needs of the world’s evolving airspace
requirements, offering safe and efficient
improvements to aircraft operations and dispatch reliability.
Emirates reveals green achievements
DUBAI – The Emirates Group today announced the release of its
first comprehensive environmental report, a study that revealed the
airline’s carbon dioxide emissions efficiency was 26% better than the
global airline average. Covering the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the audited report analysed environmental performance data from a range
of Group activities, including airline operations, dnata’s cargo and
ground handling businesses and a wide range of commercial activities
on the ground – from engineering to catering.
In addition to the carbon dioxide emissions efficiency figure, other
significant highlights in the report include:
• An airline fuel efficiency figure of 4.12 litres per 100 passengerkilometres (PK).
• 3.3 million kilogrammes of on-board waste recycled by dnata and
Emirates Flight Catering.
• dnata Freight Gate 5 opened as the first carbon neutral warehouse
in the Middle East.
• 175,000 trees planted at the carbon-neutral certified Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa.
• Fauna and flora improvements via the sponsorship of the Dubai
Desert Conservation Reserve, which represents over 5% of
Dubai’s land area.
• Benefits from the opening of the Dubai Metro station at Emirates
Group Headquarters.
• Winner of the 2010 Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award at
the World Travel Awards.
One example of The Emirates Group’s commitment to fuel efficiency is the recent participation of Emirates Airline in the INSPIRE
(Indian Ocean Strategic Partnership to Reduce Emissions) pro-

gramme, with two test flights (one from Dubai to Brisbane, the second
from Perth to Dubai). The aim of the INSPIRE initiative is to gauge
the improved environmental impact of a ‘perfect flight’ – minimising on-ground delays, using expedient taxi- and runways, conducting
gradual climb and descent paths – while flying direct optimum routes
based on existing meteorological and airspace conditions.
The results from these two flights alone resulted in a combined total
saving of over 6,250 litres of fuel and more than 16,000 kilogrammes
of carbon dioxide emissions. Since 2003 Emirates has worked with
the Air Traffic Service providers for flights to Australia and the emission savings of such operations over a five year period equate to potential savings of 9.6 million litres of fuel and 24,268 tonnes of carbon
dioxide emissions. In 2011, based on an estimated 63 flights per week,
approximate savings for the year would be in the order of 2.47 million
litres of fuel and 6,850 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
“The INSPIRE flights are only one example of our continuous efforts to reduce our environmental impact and our commitment to a
greener future,” explained Captain Alan Stealey, Divisional Senior
Vice President Flight Operations. “These flights illustrate that Emirates’ long-term strategy to address the environmental concerns of our
customers, our partners and our industry has become a part of the
everyday operating fabric of our organisation, not just something we
recognise once a year.”
The two INSPIRE flights are only the latest example of Emirates’
participation in such initiatives. Emirates conducted its first reducedemissions test flights back in 2003, and has worked with other industry stakeholders to establish the ‘flexible tracks’ initiative over the
airspace of Africa, Asia and Australia.
Iberia flight tests save fuel
MADRID – Spanish airline Iberia has undertaken the first flight test in the DORIS project
(Dynamic Route Optimisation In Flight), which aims to optimise routes and gain efficiencies
in the North Atlantic airspace, thanks to improved communications.
During flight, meteorological conditions are tracked constantly and if there is a route more
favourable than had been planned initially, the flight crew is able to change trajectory in real
time, if authorised by air traffic control.
The first analysis shows that, utilising such techniques can save more than 2% of fuel per
flight. In an Airbus A340, such as used by Iberia for transatlantic routes, this would be about
400 kilos of kerosene on a flight to Guatemala.
Iberia participates in DORIS with air navigation service providers AENA and NAV Portugal and is an initiative of the AIRE programme (Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce
Emissions), within the framework cooperation agreement between the FAA and the European
Commission to reduce the environmental impact of commercial aviation.
Iberia is also involved in the RETACDA project, which involves making continuous descent
approaches or “green approaches” to airports. These manoeuvres can reduce fuel consumption
by up to 25%, while minimising the noise produced by aircraft in this operation. Iberia was the
first airline in Spain to perform this kind of approach, and participated in the initial phase of the
project with more than 600 descents into Madrid Airport.
AIRLINE BRIEFS
ANA Introduces Fuel Cell Electric
Passenger Courtesy Vehicles
Japanese carrier ANA is to introduce fuel
cell electric vehicles into its fleet of passenger courtesy cars to become one of the
worlds’ pioneering eco-friendly airlines.
The initiative forms part of the government-backed Hydrogen Highway Project, which is designed to combat climate
change by cutting carbon emissions from
vehicle use.
ANA is the first Japanese airline to receive the Government’s ‘Eco-First’ certification and is participating in the demonstration programme for establishing a
hydrogen-based social system – a series of
initiatives funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), of which
the Hydrogen Highway Project is one.
The electric vehicle experiment is one of
a string of measures designed to make ANA
Japan’s most environmentally-conscious
airline. The carrier has already launched a
carbon offset programme enabling passengers on domestic routes to reduce their CO2
footprint.
Alitalia on-point for fuel and carbon
savings
Alitalia has signed an OnPoint Fuel &
Carbon Solutions agreement with GE Aviation. Using proprietary decision software and
fuel-consulting expertise, GE’s Fuel & Carbon Solutions will work with Alitalia to identify and track operational improvements that
could reduce the airline’s fuel spend – and
carbon emissions – by an average of 3% on
given segments.
Japanese airline to use renewably
sourced de-icing fluid
All Nippon Airways will be using a new
de-icing fluid this winter which is produced
from renewable sources and can also lead to
emissions reductions. The fluid, DFsustain, is
part of the Kilfrost range of de-icing and anti-
icing fluids. ANA participated in a trial of
DFsustain during the winter season last year.
“We’re delighted that ANA has taken on
DFsustain as it has the potential to further reduce the airline’s carbon footprint,” explained
Kilfrost’s CEO Gary Lydiate. “It’s a worldfirst fluid and truly leads the way in terms of
both green credentials and efficacy.”
DFsustain has the potential to use up to
40% less energy in manufacturing than more
traditional fluids.
Air Transat head office goes
platinum
Air Transat’s headquarters has just been
awarded the US Green Building Council’s
LEED Platinum certification in the category
“Existing Buildings.” The building is the
first in its category in Canada to obtain this
certification, awarded for compliance with
the most stringent sustainability criteria for
green buildings.
“We are exceedingly proud to have ob-
tained this certification, because it recognises
the many efforts we have made to improve
our environmental performance,” said Allen
Graham, President and CEO of Air Transat.
“These efforts have included reducing our
energy consumption by 10% and our water
use by 40% over the past few years. We have
also implemented a waste management system that emphasises composting as well as
recycling of metal, glass, plastic and paper.
This certification is the result of painstaking
teamwork and is an incentive for us all to
continue in the same direction.”
GOL enlists GE’s support to prepare
for RNP-AR in Brazil
GOL Transportes Aereos has selected GE
Aviation’s PBN Services to assist them in
obtaining regulatory authorisation to fly Required Navigation Performance (RNP) flight
procedures in Brazil. Once approved, the
airline will be allowed to fly RNP paths in
its fleet of Boeing 737s, reducing fuel con-
sumption and emissions while increasing
airspace capacity.
“GOL is a forward-looking aviation
leader that recognises the importance of
RNP in the fast-growing Brazilian aviation
sector,” said Steve Forte, general manager
of GE Aviation’s PBN Services. “Using
RNP, GOL will be able to grow its operations quickly and safely to meet market
demand, while reducing emissions and fuel
consumption.”
RNP allows aircraft to fly preciselydefined trajectories without relying on
ground-based radio-navigation signals.
Since the procedures are very precise, they
can be designed to shorten the distance an
aircraft has to fly en-route, and to reduce
noise, fuel burn and exhaust emissions.
@
For further information on
developments across the
aviation industry:
www.enviro.aero
AIRPORT 9
Supporting a Greener Future for Flight
www.enviro.aero
Optimising carbon reduction
at Manchester Airport
MANCHESTER – Manchester Airport
has been officially certified by Airport Carbon Accreditation, the European carbon standard for airports, to the ‘Optimisation’ level
for its strong environmental performance.
Environmental focus has been part of the
airport’s history for many years and in 2006,
the airport recognised the importance further
by committing to make ground operations
carbon-neutral by 2015. The airport has made
good progress in reducing carbon emissions
to date and has already started to implement
many projects that will further reduce emissions in the coming years.
Neil Robinson, Director of Sustainability
said: “We have an array of projects in place
to reduce emissions and we are extremely
proud of our progress so far. Over the next
four years, we will be looking to entirely cut
the remaining emissions and we hope to be
announcing some innovative projects in the
near future.”
To achieve the Optimisation level in Airport Carbon Accreditation, the airport must
show a year on year reduction in the carbon
emissions under its direct control and an accurate carbon footprint, which is independently audited. In addition to this, the airport
must show that it has engaged and influenced
carbon reduction from other airport sources,
which are out of the airport’s direct control;
including public travelling to the site, aircraft
emissions and businesses based on site. At
the recent launch of our Carbon Challenge,
a unique initiative challenging businesses
based on site to reduce their carbon footprint,
the airport commended seven on site companies on their work.
Brian Simpson MEP officially presented
the Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate
to Manchester Airport Managing Director,
Andrew Harrison and the airport’s dedicated
energy reduction group, the Utilities Working
Group (UWG). Responsible for overseeing
more than 14 green projects last year; including the installation of LED lamps in all multi
story car parks on site, the UWG’s primary
aims are to ensure that the airport meets its
challenging 2015 target and develops a sustainable business for the future.
Neil continued: “In 2009, the airport became the first in the UK to achieve the Reduction level of Airport Carbon Accreditation
so we are incredibly pleased to have achieved
a higher level of accreditation this year. We
place a significant importance on engaging
with our service partners and we are delighted that this has been recognised.”
“Since 2009, we have developed our skills
and knowledge and by sharing this with our
partners through the carbon challenge, the
wider airport community and the industry,
we know we can further cut carbon emissions
from our operations and heavily reduce emissions from across the entire site.”
Airport Carbon Accreditation independently assesses and recognises the efforts of
airports to manage and reduce their carbon
emissions with four levels of award: ‘Mapping’, ‘Reduction’, ‘Optimisation’ and ‘Neutrality’. Launched by Airports Council International Europe in June 2009, Airport Carbon
Accreditation is administered by WSP Environment & Energy.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI
Europe commented “It’s great to see Manchester Airport’s famously friendly, proactive
attitude and dynamic approach in evidence in
its environmental activities. Their increased
performance within Airport Carbon Accreditation speaks volumes about their commitment to sustainable airport operations, with
a host of on-site initiatives that make a real
difference not just to its footprint, but to the
carbon footprint of others on the airport site
as well.”
Stockholm’s taxi system wins another
environmental award
Auckland Airport’s travel plan
lifts the bar
STOCKHOLM – Stockholm-Arlanda Airport won the “Environmental Initiative of the
Year” prize at Wednesday evening’s Grand Travel Award 2011 for its work to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions from taxi travel from the airport. By giving precedence to cars that run on
green fuel, Stockholm-Arlanda has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by thousands of tonnes
since the taxi system was introduced in March last year. The taxi dispatch system at Stockholm-Arlanda is the only one in the world that automatically gives the shortest waiting times to
cars with the lowest environmental impact. Taxi emissions are calculated based on the vehicle’s
registration certificate, but since net emissions are lower with green fuel, a 65% deduction in
emissions is made for cars that run on ethanol and an 85% deduction is made for those that run
on biogas, in line with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions model.
Where will you be on 21
and 22 March next year?
50%
376
90%
355
Since its launch, 43 airports
have become Airport Carbon
Accredited in this Airports
Council International-Europe
programme. These airports
account for over 43% of
European passenger traffic
– welcoming more than 600
million passengers each year.
Their actions to reduce CO2 have
resulted in a reduction of more
than 729,689 tonnes of CO2 in
the past year.
Wind turbines land at East Midlands
NOTTINGHAM – As part of the commitment to make ground operations carbonneutral by 2012, East Midlands Airport has
installed two wind turbines on the airport
property.
Producing an estimated 5% of the airport’s
electricity, which is the equivalent power of
more than 150 houses, the turbines will save
approximately 300 tonnes of carbon each
year. Located on site, next to the airport’s
headquarters, the turbines stand 45 metres
high, including the rotor blades, which will
have a radius of around 14 metres.
The airport has worked closely with the
Civil Aviation Authority and North West Leicestershire District Council to ensure that all
permissions and approvals were implemented
ahead of their arrival. Planning consent was
confirmed in 2008 and since, the airport has
worked in partnership with local based companies and suppliers from across the world to
source the most suitable product for the airport environment and to guarantee the most
effective installation.
With plans to install a further two turbines,
the electricity generated will significantly add
to the airport’s existing suite of environmental measures reducing energy consumption
and carbon emissions.
Neil Robinson, Director of Sustainability, East Midlands Airport said: “We will be
the first UK airport to install turbines on this
scale and the road to get here has been challenging, but we are confident that we have
found the right turbines, that we are working
with the very best partners and now the foundation holes have been dug, we can really see
them taking shape.
“The turbines will be installed for 20 years
and we see it as a significant investment for
the airport and the environment. Throughout
the process, we have been careful to ensure
that they will have no effect on our operations
or be obtrusive for neighbours.”

AIRPORT
BRIEFS
Plan to be in Geneva, for the
2012 Aviation &
Environment Summit
The 6th Aviation & Environment Summit will be held in Geneva, Switzerland
on 21 and 22 March 2012. The Summit is the premier industry-led aviation
environment event worldwide. It provides leaders of the aviation industry
with a platform to discuss the latest environmental projects, develop a
pathway towards carbon-neutral growth and announce the collaborative
efforts that are underway across the globe. The 2012 event importantly
comes just a few months ahead of the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development (the Rio+20 Earth Summit).
 To register, or for more information:
www.enviro.aero/summit
Auckland Airport’s travel plan ‘Lift’
has achieved two major milestones by
celebrating its fourth anniversary and
giving out its 1,000th priority permit.
Lift, which was established in 2007, is a
programme developed by Auckland Airport to help airport employees find more
attractive, user-friendly ways of getting to
work. Celebrating its fourth anniversary
this year, it is one of the longest running
travel plans in the Auckland Region.
With over 12,000 people working at
the airport, Lift provides practical travel
solutions with a key focus on car-pooling.
The car-pooling scheme offers priority
parking permits to people who register to
car-pool with other airport staff. Martin
Fryer, Auckland Airport’s Sustainability
Advisor, manages the travel plan and says,
“The programme has always been popular
with the airport community and results in
180 to 200 cars off the road every day. In
2009 we calculated that equated to over
50 tonnes of carbon per annum.”
Schiphol first with LEED Platinum
certification in the Netherlands
Amsterdam Schiphol has been awarded
the LEED Platinum certificate for sustainable construction for its TransPort office
building. This is the first time that a building in the Netherlands has been awarded
this international certificate by the United
States Green Building Council. LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) is the international sustainability
mark. TransPort has been awarded the
highest ‘Platinum’ level.
“We started the construction of TransPort three years ago with the aim of constructing a sustainable, commercial office
building to the highest international standards,” said Maarten de Groof, CCO of
Schiphol Group. “We’re proud that our
efforts have been rewarded with this internationally renowned certificate. We’re
also delighted that transavia.com and
Martinair are very satisfied with their new
sustainable head office.”
ADM honoured for environmental
commitment
Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) is proud
to be named winner, in the “Enterprise”
category, at the Gala de reconnaissance
en environnement et développement durable de Montréal, held in Montréal. This
award acknowledges ADM’s efforts to
reduce its dependence on the automobile
through its Écono-Écolo-Pratique programme.
The company has made continuous efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and its dependence on the automobile. In 2009, ADM enlisted the services
of the Centre de gestion des déplacements
St-Laurent and introduced an innovative
programme, offering generous incentives
to encourage its employees to use alternative modes of transportation for their
daily home-work commute.
This programme was greatly enhanced
by the STM’s introduction of the 747 Express Bus service connecting the airport
and downtown Montréal 24/7.
The results speak for themselves: 27%
of ADM employees are participating in
the Écono-Écolo-Pratique programme.
Maldives Airports Company supports green air
traffic management initiative
MALÉ – On 17th July 2011, Maldives Airports Company Ltd under green air traffic management initiative operated the first flights via Maldives airspace. Abu Dhabi based airline
Etihad flew an Airbus 340 from Abu Dhabi to Sydney through Maldives airspace and Dubai
based Emirates Airline operated a Boeing 777 from Dubai to Brisbane on 17th July via Maldives airspace.
Maldives Airports Company Ltd (the national air-navigation service provider) is taking part
in the Indian Ocean Strategic Partnership to Reduce Emissions (INSPIRE) project. INSPIRE
Project was unanimously agreed in a meeting held in Abu Dhabi in May 2011 by Air Navigations Service Providers, Airlines and Regulators.
INSPIRE project aims to reduce carbon emissions to the atmosphere by helping the oceanic flights to use the most efficient and optimum gate-to-gate routes. This project has shown
promising results as South African Airway’s first flight on the Perth-Johannesburg route saved
400kg of fuel compared to a normal flight and reduced 1200kg of carbon emissions.
INSPIRE project is supported by Maldives Airports Company Ltd, Air Service Australia,
Airport Authority of India, Abu Dhabi Airports, Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, United
Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Airport and
Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) and the Sultanate of Oman Civil Aviation Authority.
@
For further information on
developments across the
aviation industry:
www.enviro.aero
10 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
NavCanada advances international and
domestic efforts to cut emissions
OTTAWA – Nav Canada has made further gains and has announced a new project in its
efforts to reduce aviation-related greenhouse gas emissions through safe and more efficient
air traffic flows.
The ENGAGE Corridor Project is a collaborative initiative involving the European Community, the US and Canada, aimed at improving the efficiency of the 350,000 flights per year that
cross the North Atlantic. It is one of the many projects outlined in the updated CIFER Report.
The ENGAGE Corridor Project will assess trial flights for the feasibility and potential to
reduce GHG emissions in North Atlantic Oceanic airspace. Based on actual airline flight data,
the flight trial results will be compared to “normal” operations on similar trans-Atlantic flights.
The flight trials begin in February and continue through the spring of 2011.
The trial flights will test the viability of two concepts on North Atlantic operations: progressive or continuous altitude change; and corresponding change in aircraft speed (mach).
As a flight transits the ocean, fuel is consumed and the weight of the aircraft decreases,
resulting in the most efficient flight level becoming higher (assuming zero wind). Therefore,
an efficient flight profile would include a progressive or continuous altitude change and corresponding change in mach.
Assessments show that oceanic flights can save approximately 250 litres of fuel and 650
kilogrammes of greenhouse gas emissions per flight by varying mach and altitude.
“More than 350,000 flights per year transit the North Atlantic airspace,” said Rudy Kellar,
Nav Canada Vice President, Operations. “If only three per cent are able to vary Mach and
altitude in a way that improves flight efficiency, that would result in an annual reduction of approximately 7,200 tonnes of GHG emissions and a savings of 2.7 million litres of fuel”
The ENGAGE Corridor Project is being undertaken as part of the SESAR Joint Undertaking Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE) Programme. The SESAR
Joint Undertaking (SJU) was created under European Community law in 2007 to ensure the
modernisation of the European air traffic management system.
AIRE is a programme managed by SJU in cooperation with the FAA that aims to accelerate the implementation of environmentally-friendly procedures for all phases of flight, and to
validate the benefits of these improvements.
MAESTRO conducts the symphony at CDG
PARIS – French air navigation service
provider DSNA has been using a new software tool called MAESTRO Departure Manager (DMAN) at Paris Charles de Gaulle
Airport since November 2010. The system,
which contributed to the accreditation of the
Airport-Collaborative Decision Making status for CDG, allows better coordination between airport stakeholders and more efficient
departure sequencing.
Collaborative decision making aims to
improve coordination between airport stakeholders (airport operator, airlines, traffic
control) for an optimum utilisation of airport
capacity and smoother traffic flows.
MAESTRO provides a pre-departure sequence to regulate and minimise aircraft
queues at runway threshold. It compiles and
processes air traffic management and airport
data and assigns each aircraft a runway and
a trajectory at Paris-CDG Airport based on
runway configuration and capacity, potential
closure, and the strategy decided by the ATC
tower chief.
The controller uses a specific interface
to give departure or start-up clearances at
the most appropriate time in order to fuel
runways depending on their capacity, hence
reducing delays, fuel use and aircraft congestion.
At the heart of the system and through this
project, MAESTRO also yields reduced environmental nuisance through lower emissions,
noise and fuel consumption thanks to notable
cuts in taxiing and waiting time (two minutes
less for each aircraft on average).
The implementation is a success for the
technical teams of Egis Avia who managed
to transpose the DMAN concept to an operational system in less than two years; above
all, it is a significant breakthrough in terms of
sustainable air transport.
Airbus to acquire Metron Aviation
TOULOUSE – Airbus has entered into
a definitive agreement to acquire US-based
Metron Aviation, a leading provider of advanced Air Traffic Management (ATM)
products and services for the global aviation
industry. This acquisition strengthens Airbus’ strategy to accelerate and support ATM
programmes that will dramatically improve
global air transportation capacity, efficiency
and environmental sustainability.
Earlier this year, Airbus launched subsidiary Airbus ProSky, dedicated to supporting
the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), Europe’s Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) and other global ATM modernisation programmes.
Metron Aviation provides advanced research, Air Traffic Flow Management, airspace design, energy and environmental
solutions to Air Navigation Service Providers, airlines and airports. Metron Aviation

is a prime contractor on System Engineering 2020, the FAA’s strategic programme for
implementing NextGen and is performing
advanced research and development work
on SESAR. Metron Aviation also provides
commercial ATFM solutions that optimise
airspace and airport capacity for customers
around the world including Airservices Australia, ATNS (South Africa), Delta Air Lines
and FedEx.
“The acquisition of Metron Aviation supports the Airbus strategy to help countries improve their ATM,” said Eric Stefanello, Chief
Executive Officer of Airbus ProSky. “Together, we can provide a new level of capabilities
to support NextGen and SESAR even better. Like Airbus ProSky, Metron Aviation is
not an ATM equipment manufacturer, so the
acquisition is a perfect fit for our approach
of seeking to partner with the FAA and the
world’s ANSPs.”
ANSP BRIEFS
New routes to save carbon high
over Europe
142 new direct routes have been implemented in the airspace controlled by the
Eurocontrol Maastricht Upper Area Control
Centre. These new direct routes will substantially contribute to reduce flight and engine running time, fuel burn, gas emissions
and costs in high-density European airspace.
To ensure maximum safety, the new routes
will initially be used during the least busy
hours of the night. As from the end of the
year, they will also be used during weekends. This development is the first step in
the implementation of the Free Route Airspace Maastricht programme, which aims
to put in place a direct route network for
24/7 operations, saving airlines several million kilometres. The savings expected from
the first phase of FRAM deployment during
nights and weekends are estimated at 1.16
million km per year, resulting in a reduction
of 12,000 tonnes of CO2 when compared to
the fixed route network.
CANSO agrees to support ICAO’s
IFSET project
CANSO will support a global approach
to calculating fuel and CO2 savings from
ATM operational improvements. CANSO
will work with ICAO to roll out the ICAO
Fuel Savings Estimation Tool (IFSET)
among the world’s ANSPs.
CANSO Director General Graham Lake
said, “CANSO is committed to reducing
ATM’s impact on the environment, and a
number of ANSP-driven initiatives have
already delivered significant reductions in
fuel use and emissions.
“However, we need to take a global approach to collecting accurate and comparable data so we can develop best practice,
and effectively report the industry’s progress and achievements.”
@
For further information on
developments across the
aviation industry:
www.enviro.aero
Green Flight Times
May - October 2011
FAA, JetBlue
agreement to bring
NextGen precision
WASHINGTON – The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced
that it signed a NextGen agreement with
JetBlue Airways that will allow the airline to
fly more precise, satellite-based flights from
Boston and New York to Florida and the Caribbean beginning in 2012.
NextGen is the transformation of the US
national airspace system from a ground-based
system of air traffic control to one based on
satellites, which will enhance safety and reduce aviation congestion.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
said, “NextGen is a critical investment in the
future of our transportation system, one that
uses the latest technology to transform our
airspace to make aviation safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.”
Under the agreement, as many as 35 of
JetBlue’s A320 aircraft will be equipped
with Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast (ADS-B) avionics over the next
two years, enabling them to fly in two major
routes off the East Coast even if traditional
radar coverage is not available. The improved
accuracy, integrity and reliability of aircraft
surveillance under ADS-B will allow JetBlue
to take advantage of these routes at all times
since the satellite-based system tracks the
precise position of aircraft.
The agreement will also allow JetBlue to
fly a new route to the Caribbean, and could
lead to the development of two new, shorter
ADS-B-only routes to the Caribbean from
Boston, New York and Washington. The FAA
will collect valuable NextGen data by observing and conducting real-time operational
evaluations of ADS-B on revenue flights.
ASPIRE goes
green daily
AUCKLAND – The Asia and Pacific
Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE)
is moving beyond the demonstration stage
with the launch of ASPIRE-Daily service in
selected Pacific markets.
Air New Zealand has begun ASPIRE-Daily services from Auckland to San Francisco
using some of the flight procedures identified
by the ASPIRE partners to help reduce fuel
burn and carbon emissions. Other carriers are
expected to join Air New Zealand in flying
ASPIRE-Daily routes between additional
city pairs in the coming months.
Airlines flying ASPIRE-Daily routes must
be equipped with advanced avionics that
allow them to use at least four of the environmentally friendly procedures per flight
outlined in the ASPIRE programme. These
include satellite-based avionics which automatically update a flight’s precise position to
air traffic controllers and provide an on-board
system to monitor navigation performance.
Five ASPIRE demonstration flights have
taken place since the agreement was signed
in February 2008. These demonstrations tested the following techniques which are now
being used on the ASPIRE-Daily flights:
User-preferred routes allow an airline
to request a specific routing, regardless of
projected winds, instead of flying along a
fixed route. This procedure, made possible
by advanced technologies used by air traffic
controllers monitoring aircraft over oceanic
airspace, results in a substantial reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions.
Dynamic airborne reroute procedures
allow an aircraft to deviate from its flight
path, mid-flight, to take updated wind projections into account, reducing fuel burn.
30/30 reduced oceanic separation is the
safe reduction in the required separation between aircraft from 100 nautical miles to 30.
This procedure improves capacity and efficiency over oceanic routes.
Time-based arrivals management allows controllers to sequence aircraft more
efficiently as they get closer to their arrival
airports. This reduces low altitude vectoring
and holding patterns, which burn fuel, while
improving the merging and spacing of arriving aircraft to maximise efficiency.
Arrival optimisation is the use of one of
several satellite-based procedures that allow
aircraft to descend smoothly from cruising
altitude to the arrival airport. These procedures allow aircraft to descend at idle thrust,
rather than doing step-down descents that
burn more fuel.
Departure optimisation is the climb-out
version of arrival optimisation.
Surface movement optimisation allows
aircraft to move between gates and runways
efficiently to save time and reduce fuel burn.
Airports and SESAR together to modernise
European air traffic management
Lisbon – The SESAR Joint Undertaking, a unique public-private partnership in air
traffic management, has signed a contract and
cooperation agreement with ACI Europe – the
European airports’ trade body – to engage its
technical expertise in the SESAR programme
in order to modernise together the European
sky. The two organisations signed a contract
today during the 21st ACI Europe Annual Assembly to involve ACI Europe on various research projects, development and communications activities, specifically focussed on the
role and contribution of airports in SESAR.
Building upon the work of the Single European Airports Consortium (an established
member of SESAR comprised of Aéroports
de Paris, BAA, Flughafen München, Fraport,
Schiphol, Flughafen Zurich), today’s agreement will yield a better integration of the entire airport community into the SESAR JU’s
work with the aim of making the European
aviation system more efficient.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI
Europe said “We are delighted to be joining
forces with the SESAR Joint Undertaking today. SESAR is the technological enabler of
the Single European Sky and this cooperation
reflects a strong focus on integrating airports
within the ATM system. Much of SESAR’s
work involves airports and many of our
member airports are already engaged, with
significant investments in the SESAR programme, to help optimise airport operations
for the benefit of airlines and passengers today and tomorrow.”
Patrick Ky, Executive Director of the
SESAR Joint Undertaking commented “Our
collaboration with ACI Europe will undoubtedly bring more technical expertise on airport
operations and open doors for validation
in day-to-day activities. Airports are a key
contributor to SESAR and one of the most
beneficiaries of the SESAR results. SESAR
will maximise capacity and bring better operations on the ground and in the air as well
as environmentally friendly solutions for Airport operators; clearly vital to every single
European airport.”
Aerothai showcases PBN and CDO
Traditional ‘stepped’ approach
Continuous descent operation
Take-off
Take-off
Landing
Landing
Traditional
descent – Aerothai
Continuous descent
BANGKOK
is in operations
the process
of the implementation of Performance-Based
Navigation (PBN) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Aerothai has also introduced
Continuous Descent Operations (CDO)
which will be beneficial to airlines in financial and fuel savings, reduction of carbon dioxide emission reduction.
As the nation’s sole air navigation service
provider, Aerothai is committed to the continuous development of the country’s air traffic services and other related services to the
airlines and related operators in the airport.
The introduction of PBN coincides with
the implementation of CDO. This technology
allows the arriving flights descending to the
airport in a continuous speed with minimum
engine thrust. Most importantly, it helps reduce the on-going problem of global warming.
Aerothai’s PBN implementation is expected to reduce airline fuel consumption by
50,900 tonnes per year, reducing the overall
fuel budget by 1,614 million Thai baht and
reducing carbon dioxide emission by 160,800
tonnes per year.
Green flights from LA to Singapore
SINGAPORE – On 16 May 2011, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and
Singapore Airlines, working together with the United States FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, launched the second regular ‘city pair’ ASPIRE-Daily flights from
Los Angeles to Singapore. Singapore Airlines flight SQ37, which operates non-stop on the
route, will employ enhanced gate-to-gate air traffic management operational procedures to
reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions in all phases of the flight.
Mr Yap Ong Heng, Director-General of CAAS, said, “The launch of the LAX-SIN ‘citypair’ with Singapore Airlines will clearly demonstrate how collaboration among ASPIRE
partners, airlines and other ANSPs in employing best practices and technologies in air traffic
management can achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions for
flights.”
The following air traffic management best practices, which significantly reduce fuel burn
and carbon emissions, will be utilised for the LAX-SIN flights:
• User-Preferred Routes, Dynamic Airborne Reroute Procedures and 30/30 Reduced Oceanic Separation, which allow pilots to take full advantage of atmospheric conditions, such
as prevailing winds, to reduce separation between aircraft and shorten flight time.
• Time-Based Arrivals Management and Arrivals Optimisation which allow aircraft to fly
with engines set at idle mode in continuous descent from a high altitude during the landing
phase of the flight, thus reducing fuel burn.
“We are pleased to be able to implement these flight procedures on a regular basis, and see
this as yet another step towards greener skies. We will be monitoring the flight closely to track
the fuel and emission savings, but we expect to reduce fuel burn by two tonnes and achieve
carbon emission savings of around 6.3 tonnes for each Los Angeles-Singapore sector,” says
Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice-President Flight Operations Gerard Yeap.
AIRFRAME & ENGINE 11
Supporting a Greener Future for Flight
www.enviro.aero
Bombardier regional aircraft surpass
fuel economy estimates
TORONTO – Bombardier Aerospace confirmed that the CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet
and Q400 turboprop airliner are both achieving better than expected fuel burn, rewarding operators with additional cost savings.
The CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft is achieving a mission fuel consumption rate that is 4%
better than estimated. The additional savings in fuel burn results in an average annual savings
of approximately $220,000 per aircraft. The improved fuel burn also directly results in a 4%
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to an average reduction of nearly 700 tonnes
of greenhouse gases per aircraft, each year.
“The CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft is delighting launch customers Air Nostrum and Brit Air
by delivering beyond expectations and proving to be a sound investment,” said Gary R. Scott,
President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft truly achieves
the lowest cash operating cost per mile for operators in its market segment, while delivering
extra range, exceptional reliability and a greener footprint.”
For operators of the Q400 turboprop, there is also good news; Bombardier is on target to
deliver up to 1.5% in additional fuel burn improvements, along with the 2% improvement
already achieved during high-speed cruise. The better fuel economy comes at no additional
expense to operators.
“The Q400 turboprop continues to deliver the best overall operating economics in its market segment, and Bombardier is providing continuous improvements to the aircraft’s product
offering, including a new business-class configuration, enhanced navigation systems and a
drop-down oxygen system to further extend the operational capabilities of the aircraft,” added
Mr. Scott.
To give operators more flexibility, Bombardier confirmed today that it is offering a new
dual-class configuration for the Q400 NextGen aircraft. Later this year, Bombardier will deliver the first Q400 NextGen aircraft with a business-class section, featuring three-abreast seating for premium service and comfort. The launch customer for the new cabin offering will be
announced at a later date. This new dual-class cabin configuration will also be available as a
retrofit for in-service aircraft.
2.5 billion gallons of jet fuel saved
and counting...
EADS: Nanotech could pave way for hydrogen
GLASGOW – EADS Innovation Works,
the Group’s corporate research arm, is working with university researchers to find a new
solid state storage system for hydrogen. This
technology would make it possible to use
hydrogen as a clean alternative to traditional
hydrocarbon-based fuels in aircraft engines.
Hydrogen is a clean fuel which produces
only water on combustion or when combined
with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electrical power. However, it can be expensive and
difficult to store safely. In addition, to store
hydrogen as a gas demands high volumes,
while to store as a liquid increases weight and
the energy requirement (to compress it).
Storage of hydrogen in a solid is, therefore, very attractive but minimising weight
and volume of the store is challenging and the
rate of transfer from the tank to a fuel cell or
engine is often slow. These barriers are currently holding back the use of hydrogen on an
industrial scale in fuel cells to provide power
for aircraft.
Chemists at the University of Glasgow are
working with EADS by using nanotechnology to alter the design and material composition of a storage tank with the aim of making
it so efficient that it will be feasible to use
solid state hydrogen on an industrial scale
for aircraft. If the developments to the tank
structure are successful, EADS is planning
to fly an un-manned hydrogen-powered test
plane in 2014 with a longer term view of introducing commercial aeroplanes powered
by hydrogen.
Duncan Gregory, Professor of Inorganic
Airbus and Parker join forces to further improve eco-efficiency in aviation
TOULOUSE – On its way to developing greener aircraft and significantly reducing emissions, Airbus is developing fuel cell technology as an alternative energy source for on-ground and in-flight electrical power supply. Based on its ongoing engagement with global
research programmes, Airbus is now extending the scope of its fuel
cell research activities by partnering with Parker Aerospace, a longtime Airbus supplier with special competencies in multifunctional
system integration.
Within this partnership Airbus will be responsible for the overall
aircraft system architecture and technology integration into the aircraft, and Parker will supply the multifunctional fuel cell system and
manage different subsystem suppliers.
The objective of the cooperation is the development of a technology
demonstrator followed by a joint flight test campaign for the middle of
the decade, including operational and infrastructural tests. With Parker
Aerospace involved in the project from this earliest phase, industrialisation can be considered throughout the development of the process,
rather than at the end.
Airbus considers fuel cell technology as a key contributor to meeting the ACARE 2020 goals, which foresee the reduction of CO2 emissions by 50%, NOx emissions by 80% and noise by 50%. Together
with its research partners, Airbus successfully performed the first
flight test on a civil transport aircraft in 2008, where a fuel cell system
provided power for the aircraft’s back-up systems.
As a next step, Airbus is currently investigating the application of
multifunctional fuel cells as a replacement for the Auxiliary Power
Unit (APU) to power any electrical consumer of the aircraft, e.g., the
cabin. This would enable the replacement of ground power units leading to an emission free ground operation and significantly reduce mission fuel consumption.
Embraer recognised as sustainability leader
São José dos Campos – With the significant achievement of having been named the
Aerospace and Defense sector leader, Embraer has been selected for the second consecutive
year as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). “Our belief in and commitment to continuous improvement has led the company to constantly pursue best corporate management practices in all dimensions of our business,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer
President and CEO. “This rating crowns the efforts of all of Embraer’s collaborators, and it
renews our motivation to exercise management based on values and on enterprise excellence.”
In 2009, Embraer was named as a Sector Mover, which is the rating given to companies that
gain the highest number of positions among their peers. The following year, Embraer joined
the Index by gaining the Gold Class rating, ranking second among sector companies. For the
2011/2012 listing, Embraer achieved the top spot in the aerospace and defense sector, which
has 30 eligible companies, worldwide. Created in 1999, the DJSI is based on an analysis of
economic, environmental and social performance criteria.
Airbus becomes ambassador for Global
Restoration Council and Coalition
American Airlines is just one of the many carriers taking advantage of the fuel – and
emissions – savings made possible by retro-fitted winglets, such as on this Boeing 757.
SEATTLE – Aviation Partners and Aviation Partners Boeing announced that as of 9
February 2011, their blended winglet technology has saved the world’s airlines and
private jet operators 2.5 billion gallons of jet
fuel, or about $5 billion. This represents a
global reduction in CO2 emissions of almost
26 million tonnes. Aviation Partners winglet
technology is now flying on more than 4,000
airplanes and 21 different models.
Joe Clark, Chairman and CEO of Aviation
Partners, and John Reimers, CEO of Aviation
Partners Boeing, both agreed the fuel savings

are significant and this number will climb exponentially to more than seven billion gallons
within the next five years.
Clark said, “We are very proud of this
achievement and excited that we are ahead
of the curve in energy conservation.” This
technology is being delivered to the world’s
airlines and private jet operators at a rate of
over 500 aircraft per year.
Aviation Partners Boeing has retrofitted
roughly two thousand in-service aircraft to
make them more efficient in today’s environment.
Materials at the School of Chemistry at the
University of Glasgow, is leading the research. He is using nanotechnology to alter
the structure of the Hydrisafe Tank, which is
a new design under development by Hydrogen Horizons.
Professor Gregory said: “Using new active
nanomaterials in combination with novel storage tank design principles presents a hugely
exciting opportunity to address the considerable challenges of introducing hydrogen as a
fuel for aviation.” EADS and Prof Gregory’s
team are seeking funding from the European
Union to build a European-wide team of academic and industrial partners to examine the
wider issues relating to using hydrogen on an
industrial scale to power aircraft engines.
BONN – Airbus has become an ambassador of the newly founded “Global Restoration Council and Coalition”, lead by Göran
Persson, former Prime Minister of Sweden.
The council was launched at the international
reforestation summit “Bonn Challenge”,
taking place in Bonn, Germany, and has an
objective to reforest 15% of the degraded forests worldwide by 2020.
Airbus’ involvement is part of its longstanding commitment to the goals of the
United Nations’ Convention on Biological
Diversity to enhance international awareness
on the need to protect the environment and its
biodiversity. In its role as ambassador, Airbus
will approach its airline customers to gain
their support for the council and enlarge its
publicity.
Airbus drives innovation to constantly
improve the eco-efficiency of aviation, and
is investing US$2 billion each year in new
technologies. “It is clear that the 70% reduction in aircraft emissions and the 75% reduction in noise achieved over the last 40 years
are just the beginning. Airbus stands firmly
– and actively – behind the ATAG targets of
achieving carbon neutral growth for the industry by 2020 and a 50% reduction in CO2
emissions by 2050”, says Günter Butschek,
Airbus Executive Vice President Operations,
at the summit in Bonn.
In order to achieve these ambitious targets,
Airbus pushes the development and integration of new technologies and materials, is
leading international projects to improve air
traffic management to reduce emissions and
noise and actively drives the implementation
of sustainable biofuel value chains all over the
world. Besides these technical activities Airbus also supports environment projects, and
has been working with the UN Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD) since 2008 to
promote “The Green Wave” initiative, which
educates young people about the crucial role
that biodiversity plays in our lives and our
futures. The Airbus Corporate Foundation
also supports biodiversity projects in Europe,
China, Japan, the US and India.
to achieve the highest operational efficiencies
with more direct routings resulting in around
10% less aircraft fuel consumption, and significant reductions in CO2 and noise emissions. The first such undertaking announced
by Airbus ProSky was the recent MoU with
Chinese authorities for cooperation in ATM,
whereby Airbus ProSky will assist the Chinese Air Traffic Management Bureau with
the introduction and implementation of new
ATM concepts, airspace design, deployment
support, training and best practices. Furthermore, authorities in other countries are also
exploring the opportunities of working with
Airbus ProSky to adopt the principles and
know-how developed for ATM systems in
Europe and the US.
The Foundation’s Corporate Award for Balance is an honor bestowed on organisations
whose concern for the environment and dedication to improving quality of life are demonstrated through their business practices.
“GE Aviation’s technological innovations
have produced tremendous gains in fuel efficiency,” observed Larry Williams, Lindbergh
Foundation Chairman. “Their dedication to
research and technology that reduce fuel consumption, noise and emissions is exemplary,
and certainly worthy of Lindbergh Foundation recognition,” he added. “GE’s work is
an excellent model for other manufacturers
to follow.”
Boeing and AA speed
up quieter, cleaner
aviation technologies
LE BOURGET – Reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions and community
noise are the focus as Boeing and American Airlines announced that the airline will
be the launch customer for the evolutionary
ecoDemonstrator Program. A Boeing NextGeneration 737-800 aircraft will be used to
flight test and accelerate the market readiness
of emerging technologies.
"We are proud to have American Airlines
as our launch partner for this new generation
of technology that can bolster aviation's role
as the most efficient means of global transportation," said Boeing Vice President of Environment and Aviation Policy Billy Glover.
Together with the American Airlines engineering team, Boeing is finalising plans for
installing the initial technology applications
aboard the first aircraft. Specific technologies
that will be flown in 2012 include:
• Adaptable trailing edge technology – a
technology being developed under the
FAA CLEEN Program, it reduces noise
and emissions during all phases of flight
including take-off, cruise and landing.
• Variable area fan nozzle – reduces community noise and enables advanced engine efficiency technologies.
• Flight trajectory optimisation for in-flight
planning – enables airlines to determine
and fly more fuel-efficient routes and provides flight crews the ability to reroute for
weather and other constraints.
• Regenerative fuel cells for onboard power
– efficiently stores and generates power,
and adapts to aircraft electrical systems
demand, potentially reducing weight, fuel
burn and CO2 emissions.
MANUFACTURER BRIEFS
Boeing South Carolina achieves
zero waste to landfill status
Boeing’s South Carolina 787 production,
final assembly and delivery site has become
the company’s first major commercial airplane production facility to achieve zero
waste to landfill status. The North Charleston site is the fourth within Boeing to reach
this milestone achievement. Zero waste to
landfill means that none of the waste materials and by-products generated at the site
reaches landfill. Waste material is recycled
or reused or otherwise repurposed, reducing
the site’s overall environmental footprint.
Components of the site’s zero waste to
landfill plan include a comprehensive recycling program with point-of-use containers
as well as recycling centres located across
the site. Food scraps also are collected in
cafeterias and break rooms for composting.
Larger packaging waste materials that can’t
be reused are removed from the site by
Sonoco for recycling or repurposing.
Airbus launches “ProSky” – new
ATM subsidiary
Airbus has launched a new subsidiary
company, called “Airbus ProSky”, dedicated
to the development and support of modern
air traffic management (ATM) systems. Airbus ProSky will become the channel through
which Airbus will interact and develop ATM
programmes such as “Single European Sky
ATM Research” in Europe, as well as NextGen in the US. In particular, for these two
ATM programmes, the new company will
help accelerate and support the process of
their implementation, and link them together
by capitalising on the technological, operational and commercial synergies. Airbus
ProSky will also contribute Airbus’ aviation
expertise further afield for other nations by
working with their air navigation service
providers, airworthiness authorities and airlines. This will help them achieve the common goal of transforming their ATM systems
with the latest technologies and procedures,
GE Aviation recognised with
Lindbergh Award for Balance
GE Aviation was recognised with the Corporate Award for Balance at the 37th Annual
Lindbergh Award Celebration and Dinner.
PurePower completes initial tests
Pratt & Whitney successfully completed
initial ground testing on its first PurePower
PW1000G series engine. The engine completed nearly 200 hours of ground tests at the
company’s Florida facility. “The engine continues to exceed our expectations,” said Bob
Saia, VP Next Generation Product Family.
“We have already completed an unprecedented amount of testing on this first engine, including a full structural evaluation,
performance, noise and emissions testing.
Testing has validated overall engine operational characteristics including component
design, rotor dynamics and engine fuel and
lubrication systems.” The PurePower uses
an advanced gear system allowing the engine’s fan to operate at a different speed
than the low-pressure compressor and turbine. The combination of the gear system
and an all-new advanced core delivers double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency
and environmental emissions as well as
a 50% reduction in noise. The engine has
been selected for the Bombardier CSeries
scheduled to enter service in 2013 and the
Mitsubishi Regional Jet (2014), Airbus
A320neo aircraft (October 2015) and the
Irkut MC-21 narrow-body jet (2016).
12 FACTS & FIGURES
Green Flight Times
May - October 2011
70%
649,000,000 tonnes
A jet aircraft coming off the production line today is over 70% more
fuel efficient per seat km than one delivered in the 1960s.
Worldwide, flights produced 649 million tonnes of CO2 last year.
Globally, humans produced over 34 billion tonnes of CO2.
2%
The global aviation industry
produces around 2% of all
human-induced carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions.
12%

Aviation is responsible for 12% of CO2 emissions from all
transport sources, compared to 74% from road transport.

Over 33 million people are employed worldwide in aviation
activities and related tourism. Of this, 5.5 million people work
directly in the aviation industry.
The aviation industry
consumes around 1.6 billion
barrels of Jet A-1 fuel annually.
1,715 airlines operate a fleet
of 23,000 aircraft serving
3,750 airports through a route
network of millions of kms
managed by 160 air navigation
service providers.
Nearly a third of the operating costs of airlines is spent on fuel:
30%, which is up from 13% in 2001. The proportion is likely to
rise further as fuel prices go up. So this alone is a major incentive
for the industry to focus on fuel efficiency.
Aviation.
$1.3 trillion
In order for the aviation industry to reach its target of 1.5%
average fleet fuel efficiency per annum from now until 2020, the
world’s airlines will have to purchase 12,000 new aircraft at a
cost of $1.3 trillion.
Since 2005, IATA’s Green Teams have saved some 39 million
tonnes of CO2 by advising airlines on fuel efficiency methods.
77%
77%
40%
CAR
30%
COACH
1.5%
We will improve our fleet fuel efficiency by 1.5% per annum
between now and 2020.
Stabilise
From 2020, net carbon emissions from aviation will be capped
through carbon-neutral growth.
60%
TRAIN
Alternative fuels, particularly sustainable biofuels, have been
identified as excellent candidates for helping achieve the industry
targets. Biofuels derived from biomass such as algae, jatropha
and camelina have been shown to reduce the carbon footprint of
aviation fuel by up to 80% over their full lifecycle. If commercial
aviation were to get 6% of its fuel supply from biofuel by 2020,
this would reduce its overall carbon footprint by 5%.
Our climate targets:
Globally, the average
occupancy of aircraft is around
77%, greater than other forms
of transport.
AIRCRAFT
80%
Figures for aircraft are worldwide. Figures for
other modes are UK averages.
50%
By 2050, net aviation carbon emissions will be half of what they
were in 2005.
80%
Around 80% of aviation CO2 emissions are emitted from flights of over 1,500 kilometres, for which
there is no practical alternative mode of transport.
3 litres
The new Airbus A380, Boeing
787 and Bombardier CSeries
aircraft use less than 3 litres
of jet fuel per 100 passenger
kilometres. This matches the
efficiency of most modern
compact cars.
In 1945, it took 130 weeks for a person earning the average
Australian wage to earn enough for the lowest Sydney to London
return airfare. In 2009, it took just 1.7 weeks.

The South African horn made infamous at the 2010 World Cup,
the vuvuzela, at full blast is rated at 127 decibels. An A380 on the
other hand takes off with a relative whisper at 82dB.
2.6 billion
In 2010, around 2.6 billion
passengers were carried by
the world’s airlines.

Worldwide, the amount
contributed to the global
economy by aviation jobs is
roughly four times higher than
that contributed by other jobs.
If aviation were a country, it
would rank 21st in the world
in terms of gross domestic
product (GDP), generating
$425 billion of GDP per year,
considerably larger than
some members of the G20
(and around the same size as
Switzerland).
In Asia-Pacific, aviation jobs
contribute over seven times
more GDP than average jobs.
By 2026, it is forecast that
aviation will contribute $1
trillion to world GDP.
4x
35%
While air transport carries around 0.5% of the volume of world
trade shipments, it is over 35% by value – meaning that goods
shipped by air are very high value commodities, often times
perishable or time-sensitive.
Deliveries of fresh produce from Africa to the UK alone supports
the livelihoods of 1.5 million people, while producing less CO2
than similar produce grown in the UK, despite the energy used in
transport.
Sources:
IATA Economics, ATAG Beginner’s Guide to Aviation Efficiency, IPCC,
ICAO, United Kingdom Department for Transport, Oxford Economics Study
Aviation: the Real World Wide Web, Airbus, Boeing, ATAG Beginner’s
Guide to Aviation Efficiency, ATAG report The Social and Economic Benefits
of Air Travel, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), IATA,
ATAG, BBC News, AERO modelling system, Qantas.