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by Vicky Hales-Dutton The global village is now a reality – largely thanks to the increased availability and affordability of air travel over the last 30 years. As well as bringing people together, aviation plays a vital role in global trade and commerce, not to mention providing all-important employment opportunities to many in and around the world’s airports.
In fact, aviation is so significant, suggests the International Air Transport Association (IATA), that it supports a massive 8% of global economic activity. The future’s looking bright for the industry but, as capacity increases, so does concern about its impact on the environment. According to the European Union, emissions of polluting gasses from aircraft now account for about 3% of total EU emissions, having risen by 73% between 1990 and 2003. By 2030, says the Department of Rural Affairs, aviation could contribute up to a quarter of the UK’s contribution to global warming. The fact is that, unless they’re switched off, aircraft produce emissions. Carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons are present in large quantities when the aircraft is idle or in taxi mode, while nitrogen oxides (NOx) are high during take-off when the engine’s at maximum power. Carbon dioxide (CO2) peaks during landing. Because of this aviation adversely affects air quality especially near airports, although motor vehicle pollution along major roads to and from airports also plays its part.
Strict limits are set on emissions from aircraft engine exhausts by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). But these only apply during the Landing Take-Off (LTO) cycle. Aircraft generally cruise at altitudes of between 8 km and 13km where pollutants take longer to disperse and so have a significant – and unchecked - impact on global warming and ozone depletion. Sir David King, the chief environmental officer, has recently pointed to these as responsible for “keeping the US warmer at night.” This discovery was made when aircraft were grounded for several weeks post-9/11 and air temperature near the US airports became cooler in the temporary absence of contrails and cirrus. The good news is that advances in aircraft technology are already helping to reduce emissions. IATA figures show that air fuel efficiency has improved by 20% in the last 10 years. The new giant 555-seater ?6 billion Airbus A380, the world’s biggest airliner, is credited with 10-15% more range, lower fuel burn and emissions and less noise. Cleaner aircraft like this are desperately needed, but, as Friends of the Earth point out, any benefits could be outweighed by the anticipated growth in air travel - which is significant. Sustainable aviation was the key theme of the UK Government’s Future of Air Transport White Paper, published in 2003, which set out aviation policy for the next 30 years. It seeks a balance between the need to encourage growth in air travel – so vitally important to the UK’s regional economies and the economy as a whole - with the need to limit environmental damage. “If we want to continue enjoying its benefits, we have to increase capacity. But we can't add to airport capacity regardless of the environmental cost,” says the White Paper. “We have taken a strategic view of where airport development may be needed, balancing the benefits of new airports against the impacts they can have.”
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