Five Ways Can Make Aviation More Sustainable
We feel a bit guilty when we fly because it does contribute to carbon emissions and climate change. Aviation is around 2.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, interestingly, we don’t feel the same guilt when we drive a petrol car or walk into a new building, though concrete production accounts for about 8% of global emissions. This is because it happens to be a very visible symbol of our high-carbon lifestyle, and the industry has been slow to embrace the climate change agenda.
In actuality, as aviation continues to expand, it must now lower its carbon footprint. Although the business is expected to grow rapidly after COVID-19 and reach a trillion-dollar market by 2030, climate change is already impacting airports and flights through extreme weather events like flooding, snowfall, and turbulence. So, we would miss the global target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 if not acted upon right now.
How To Make Aviation More Sustainable:
There are five main steps we can take to make aviation more sustainable; they are all aimed at lowering carbon emissions while simultaneously enhancing operational effectiveness and safety.
1.Optimise Flight Planning and Airspace:
One of the easiest yet effective methods to reduce emissions is optimizing flight planning and airspace management. Airlines already make use of advanced flight planning systems and AI in order to choose the most fuel-efficient routes and altitudes. Still, there’s room for improvement. By reducing turbulence and contrails, or the white streaks left behind by aircraft, we can cut emissions even further.
Improving air traffic control will also help. Optimizing aircraft separation and flow management will prevent planes from bunching up in the air, avoiding delays and reducing the need for planes to burn fuel while waiting to land. More efficient airspace management can increase comfort for passengers while also benefiting the environment.
2.Make Operations More Sustainable:
Advanced aerodynamics and advanced engine technology will make the newest commercial aircraft better in terms of fuel saving and lower emissions, but airlines are capable of further actions to help their operations be more sustainable.
Key is investing in newer, fuel-efficient aircraft. One can even retrofit the older aircraft to make way for winglets and so forth, thus reducing drag and improving efficiency. Optimize the weight and center of gravity in every single aircraft by smartly placing the passengers and cargo on board to enhance efficiency.
Airports can also assist by using renewable forms of energy to power their ground operations, for instance, tugging planes with electric instead of traditional fossil-driven tugs. Their possible extensive use of electric vehicles in baggage handling could prevent some emissions from coming from aircraft taxiing on the ground.
3.Switch to Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF):
Kerosene, the conventional jet fuel, is the primary source of pollutants in aviation. Airlines must switch to Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in order to address this. Renewable resources, such as plants, trash, or even synthetic fuels, are the source of these biofuels.
SAFs can reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 98%, depending on the type used. However, the availability and cost of SAFs are still challenges. A clear transition plan for airlines to adopt SAFs, along with reliable access to these fuels, is necessary to make this change effective. Over time, SAFs could drastically lower aviation’s carbon footprint.
4.Make Airports More Eco-Friendly:
One significant role of an airport in minimizing emissions is eco-friendly airports being powered by renewable energy sources like solar or wind, thus decreasing carbon emissions produced by the running of the airports. Other types of equipment include electric-powered ground equipment—like tugs, baggage loaders, and catering trucks—replacing fossil-fuel-powered machines.
Another critical step is to reduce aircraft engine idling time during taxiing. If airports can minimize this, planes won’t burn unnecessary fuel, which reduces emissions. There is also an exciting opportunity to design and build the next generation of sustainable airports, with over $400 billion worth of airport projects already planned globally.
5.Smart Travel and Passenger Incentives:
Airlines and airports are also capable of making passenger travel more sustainable. This begins by rethinking the passenger experience- not only for the time aboard the flight, but from door to door. For example, offering luggage pick-up from a passenger’s doorstep or encouraging the use of public transport to arrive at the airport can help mitigate the carbon footprint of travel.
Additionally, by offering necessities like toiletries or ski equipment at the site, airlines can lessen the need for travelers to bring bulky bags. Passengers would have a lighter load, and flights would use less fuel. These little adjustments can add up to make air travel more environmentally friendly for all.
Making aviation sustainable is not an easy process, and some of the significant interventions that would make a difference include optimizing flight operations, transition to sustainable fuels, changing airport designs, or rethinking how passengers travel. With the growth of the aviation industry, these steps are important in making the carbon footprint of the aviation industry minimal while also helping meet the global goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
It is possible for us to contribute in making air travel environmentally responsible while still being a vital component of our world, and by embracing new technology and streamlining our operations, we can ensure a sustainable future for the aviation sector.For more information like this, visit our website.https://www.climatechallange.com/ & Share your experiences in the comments below!