EUROCONTROL contributes to curbing aircraft emissions

Citation

(2007), "EUROCONTROL contributes to curbing aircraft emissions", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779caf.004

EUROCONTROL contributes to curbing aircraft emissions

EUROCONTROL contributes to curbing aircraft emissions

EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, is following with interest the European Commission's proposal to include aviation's carbon dioxide emissions in the existing European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme.

Víctor M. Aguado, Director General of EUROCONTROL, noted: “Stakeholders in the air transport industry are committed to reducing aviation's impact on the environment. Great progress has already been made, with reductions in emissions and noise of more than 70 per cent over the last 40 years. Including aviation's carbon dioxide emissions in Europe's trading scheme could help pave the way to a global approach to emissions trading, under the guidance of the International Civil Aviation Organisation”.

He added: “Environmental issues are of increasing concern world-wide. EUROCONTROL and its stakeholders are determined to accelerate air traffic management's contribution to the sustainable development of air transport”.

Studies carried out by EUROCONTROL have demonstrated that operational measures can deliver tangible environmental benefits. The introduction of six new flight levels in January 2002 reduced annual carbon dioxide emissions by one million tonnes, which is the equivalent of removing three days worth of emissions from the system every year.

The implementation of the flexible use of airspace in Europe currently saves a further 400,000ton of CO₂ annually.

EUROCONTROL's Central Flow Management Unit also helps reduce emissions on a daily basis. It does this by proposing more direct routings whenever possible and by keeping aircraft on the ground with the engines switched off until there is a slot available, rather than have them circle in the air. In 2005, the Central Flow Management Unit saved 1.1 million tonnes of CO₂.

“More effort is being deployed to improve the overall efficiency of the European network” declared Guido Kerkhofs, Director of ATM Programmes at EUROCONTROL, “Measures are being taken”.

Flight trials conducted by EUROCONTROL, in collaboration with airlines, air navigation service providers and airport operators on continuous descent approach at airports, have demonstrated that this approach sharply reduces aircraft emissions, fuel consumption and noise. Harmonised guidance material on this will be issued in mid-2007.

There is also DMEAN – the dynamic management of European airspace network – a programme that aims to introduce collaborative pan-European design, planning and management of the ATM network. It puts the emphasis on the environment so that when new opportunities are identified, efficiency and environmental gains are achieved in parallel.

Finally, the SESAR ATM Master Plan development which is being jointly funded with the European Commission, will also put the environment right at the top of the agenda.