Joint Policy Statement with Engineers Australia
The impact of aviation on the environment is a topical issue and a critical one for the aviation industry. Much has been done to improve fuel efficiencies, but major technological breakthroughs are necessary if aviation is to continue to grow at 5% without increasing its impact on the environment through greenhouse gas emissions.
In August 2007, the Australian Division and Engineers Australia released a joint policy on Aviation and the Environment. The full policy is avaialble by request, however the following recommendations were made:
The RAeS Australia Division and Engineers Australia should participate in the debate about aviation and climate change by:
- Encouraging the aviation industry to recognise the impact of aviation on the environment is an issue which public debate will demand must be taken into account in any climate change mitigation and abatement policy.
- Contributing to the development of Government policy and initiatives to mitigate the impact of aviation on the environment.
- Promote research programs contributing to global research into reducing the impacts of aviation on the environment. Examples of areas where Australia could contribute are: Greater use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) including management of aircraft movements on the ground, on approach and landing; the impact of long range flying on fuel efficiencies with respect the optimum payload range research into combustor design for reduction in nitrogen oxides; and contrail reduction. Collaborative research and other activities with Cambridge University and MIT on the “Silent Aircraft initiative”, ASD on the Clean Skies Initiative; Rolls-Royce on combustion chamber design to reduce Nitrogen Oxides; Boeing and Airbus on the next generation concept designs; “Greener by Design” to promote the issue of aviation and the environment; and APEC countries on reducing aviation greenhouse gas emissions
- Assist in development of policy options to reduce aviation’s contribution to climate change.
Greener by Design
Greener by Design is a collaborative industry group formed in 1999 to bring together experts from every part of the aviation industry with Government bodies and research institutions to seek practical and environmentally and economically sustainable solutions to the challenge posed by aviation’s impact on the environment.
The group that actively contributes to more environmentally friendly aviation by:- Researches, assesses and advises Government and industry on operational, technological, economic and regulatory options for limiting aviation’s environmental impact.
- Promotes best practice across the aviation and aerospace sectors.
- Promotes a balanced understanding of aviation’s true environmental impact and its environmental programmes.
- Holds annual conferences on sustainable aviation.
- Maintains a web site and library comprising a definitive archive of documents relating to sustainable aviation.
More information is available at the official Greener by Design site.
