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FEATURE ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT

airport or might replace ‘bad’ aircraft are installing clean mass-transit systems Technology to the rescue?
with ones not optimised for that use and into the served city, replacing petrol buses The UK-based Technology Strategy Board
so simply aggravate the economic and and maintenance vehicles with hybrid and (TSB) is convinced the answers to most of
environmental burdens from unsuitable hydrogen-powered ones, and building the above will not be found by simply levying
aircraft. It’s not an easy balance. smart buildings that either cool or heat taxes or reducing timeslots, but through
And on the ground, at airports, themselves or use passive energy. “Things technology. “Technology has a vital role
the challenges of inefficient aircraft like the reduction in energy, raw materials to play in addressing the environmental
– designed to fly, not crawl around on and water use on airport in development challenge,” says UK Deputy PM Nick Clegg
concrete aprons – are equally significant. and life cycle maintenance are some of the at the opening of a new plant in Bristol.
Switching off auxiliary power units (APUs) most effective initiatives,” says Stephen “The UK’s strategy focuses on investment
that gobble fuel and spew CO2 and NOX Byron, chairman of Canberra Airport in in four key, high value areas of modern
and instead using electric power and Australia. “It’s also about adopting Green aircraft where the UK excels – wings,
pre-conditioned air at gates is one way. Building Council principles, harnessing engines, aerostructures and advanced
Building smarter layouts and more direct and recycling non-potable water, and systems.” New technologies such as
taxiways helps reduce inefficient and using computer controlled building novel airframe configurations and engine
PM-generating taxi time, as does holding management systems to measure, concepts, advanced lightweight materials,
aircraft at the gate until departure slots monitor and indicate opportunities to innovative flow control techniques and
are ready. And smart airport operators reduce energy and water use,” he adds. electric aircraft systems are all slated
to significantly improve environmental
performance in the aviation sector. It
cites the Advisory Council on Aeronautics
Research in Europe (ACARE)’s targets
that aim for a 50% reduction in CO2 and
perceived aircraft noise, and an 80%
reduction in NOx by 2020, and says it
will commit £2billion over seven years to
environmental R&D.
The UK’s TSB is also pushing research
through the OMEGA (Opportunities for
Meeting the Environmental Challenge of
Growth in Aviation) partnership. This is
a grouping of nine UK universities that
work with the industry to investigate
environmental effects and propose
sustainable solutions. OMEGA is looking
at technology, alternative fuels, and
policy and economic instruments as
ways to keep aircraft green. “No-one
wants to give up flying; but equally no-
one wants global warming, climate
change or the local impacts of noise and
pollution around airports,” said OMEGA
CEO Roger Gardner.
Noise-wise, researchers are busy
looking at things like the amount of air
pass-through in engines, the size and
shape and weight of fan blades, even the
position of the engine on the aircraft. All
effect the noise footprint, and geared
turbofans promise even more gains.
Other areas like the size and number of
flaps, wing shape, wingtip sharklets and
more all help reduce noise pollution.
This is paying off; already aircraft like the
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