Page 10 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT
FEATURE ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT

Greening or Groaning?

The Aviation Environment

Despite aircraft becoming quieter and more efficient, the aviation industry is still
highly visible. Noise, massive runways and non-renewable fuel usage illustrated by
vapour trails are all easy targets for green critics. So what can operators do to the
keep travellers and customers happy? AAA staff report

ACCORdING TO AIRbuS, MORE THAN finding the innovative and intelligent
56 million jobs and US$2.2 trillion of solutions that will ensure the maximum
GDP comes from the aviation industry; a environmental benefits from our
staggering 3.5% of global GDP. If aviation products,” says Fabrice Brégier, CEO
were a country, it would rank 19th in global Airbus. Brégier claims that since the
output, as much as Poland or Switzerland. 1960s, fuel efficiency has improved by
And it is getting bigger. some 70% per passenger km, today’s
Globally the sector is expanding. aircraft are 75% quieter than those built
Passenger demand doubles every 15 years 50 years ago, unburned hydrocarbons and
and by 2050 it could be handling 16 billion smoke has been cut by some 90%, and
passengers and 400 million tonnes of levels of carbon monoxide (CO) have come
cargo every year. And in the process, having down by 50%.
an ever increasing environmental impact. “Innovation,” he says, “is the driving
The major players understand this – and force of Airbus, and more than ever is
they are aware of the importance of public providing the solutions for aviation’s
sentiment. Not only will it affect the bottom sustainable future with the least possible
line, it will affect the air our children impact on the environment. We don’t
breathe, and the seas they swim in. have all the answers and there are many
“At Airbus we invest over €2 billion challenges ahead, but we are committed
each year in Research and Development; to continuously improve and we believe
most of this investment is used towards that innovation is the key,” he adds.
10 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM