New carbon dioxide emissions targets for the airline industry have been proposed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The proposals could see the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent to approximately 3,000 flights between London and New York over the next three years.
The CAA is proposing new targets for NATS, the UK’s largest air navigation service provider, aimed at reducing aircraft carbon emissions, with incentives or penalty payments depending on NATS’ performance.
The new plans are based on analysis of actual radar tracks since 2006, which have helped establish an “average efficiency level” in terms of horizontal and vertical flight trajectories. In short, how direct the flight route is and how smooth the climb and descent of each flight.
Flight trajectories have significant impacts on fuel burn and therefore on carbon emissions.
The move promises to establish “Europe’s most comprehensive and developed incentive regime to encourage the most environmentally efficient use of airspace”.
“The aviation sector can only continue to grow, with all the social and economic benefits that brings, if it is environmentally sustainable,” said Iain Osborne, CAA Director of Regulatory Policy.
“That’s why the collaboration between NATS and their airline customers working with the CAA to put in place this efficiency target is so welcome – it shows the potential for real environmental benefits when we work together.”
As well as reducing emissions the plans are also likely to save airlines money, too. The CAA estimate that if NATS meets the new targets it could save airlines up to £120m in fuel costs over the next three years.
Richard Deakin, NATS Chief Executive said that environmental considerations were important in order to create a sustainable airline industry that can grow in the future.
“NATS is already working towards stretching targets to reduce ATM-related CO2 which we believe are in line with this new performance measure.”
The International Air Transport Association Assistant (IATA) is also behind the new system and is likely to urge the European Commission (EC) to consider the introduction of a similar metric in the near future.
The modifications, including the addition of the flight efficiency targets, are expected to come into force from January 2012.
