Aviation and the Aviation and the EnvironmentEnvironment

The Role of General AviationThe Role of General Aviation

• The aviation industry has been successful The aviation industry has been successful in adopting an environmental agenda that in adopting an environmental agenda that supports a sustainable aviation supports a sustainable aviation environment.environment.

• This agenda includes testing alternative This agenda includes testing alternative fuels to be used in aircraft, developing fuels to be used in aircraft, developing carbon offsets, and encouraging “green” carbon offsets, and encouraging “green” airports.airports.

The Facts on Aviation EmissionsThe Facts on Aviation Emissions

• Aviation accounts for only 3% of greenhouse Aviation accounts for only 3% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide, gas (GHG) emissions worldwide, according to according to data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.Change.

• U.S. aviation industry has reduced GHG U.S. aviation industry has reduced GHG emissions by 13% since 2000. emissions by 13% since 2000. General aviation General aviation and and U.S. airlines are doing a better job of U.S. airlines are doing a better job of transporting passengers on less fuel, by harmonizing transporting passengers on less fuel, by harmonizing schedules, switching to more fuel-efficient aircraft schedules, switching to more fuel-efficient aircraft and engines, and undertaking fuel-saving measures.and engines, and undertaking fuel-saving measures.

• Aircraft fuel efficiency improved by 23% from Aircraft fuel efficiency improved by 23% from 2000-2006, 2000-2006, based on the amount of fuel based on the amount of fuel consumption per passenger mile, according to the consumption per passenger mile, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation. While While automobile fuel efficiency increased by 2%.automobile fuel efficiency increased by 2%.

• Aviation gasoline and jet fuel account for Aviation gasoline and jet fuel account for 12% of total petroleum product consumption12% of total petroleum product consumption.. According to the Department of Energy, aviation According to the Department of Energy, aviation gasoline and jet fuel supply account for 1,624,000 gasoline and jet fuel supply account for 1,624,000 barrels per day compared to 20,588,000 barrels of barrels per day compared to 20,588,000 barrels of all petroleum products used per day.all petroleum products used per day.

Facts Continued…Facts Continued…

Facts on Alternative FuelsFacts on Alternative Fuels

• Alternative fuels programs exist within Alternative fuels programs exist within aviation. aviation. Virgin Fuels, Boeing, and GE Aviation Virgin Fuels, Boeing, and GE Aviation have joined forces to develop an alternative fuel have joined forces to develop an alternative fuel composed of babassu oil and a mixture of jet fuel composed of babassu oil and a mixture of jet fuel and coconut oil. and coconut oil.

• The University of North Dakota received a $5 The University of North Dakota received a $5 million grant to develop a cold weather million grant to develop a cold weather sustainable biofuel to be used by the military. sustainable biofuel to be used by the military.

Technology and the EnvironmentTechnology and the Environment

• New aviation technology is producing New aviation technology is producing cleaner and more efficient aircraft.cleaner and more efficient aircraft. Advances Advances in aerodynamics offer more efficient wings and in aerodynamics offer more efficient wings and designs with less drag. The Cirrus and Columbia designs with less drag. The Cirrus and Columbia aircraft are examples of more efficient general aircraft are examples of more efficient general aviation aircraft. New composite materials are aviation aircraft. New composite materials are making aircraft lighter, resulting in increased fuel making aircraft lighter, resulting in increased fuel

efficiency.efficiency.

Federal Programs to Improve Federal Programs to Improve EmissionsEmissions

• The FAA implemented the Reduced Vertical The FAA implemented the Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum,Separation Minimum, an ICAO concept, which an ICAO concept, which reduces aircraft separation standards at certain reduces aircraft separation standards at certain altitudes, allowing aircraft to fly more optimum altitudes, allowing aircraft to fly more optimum profiles safely, use less fuel and increase airspace profiles safely, use less fuel and increase airspace capacity, capacity, saving about 3 million tons of carbon saving about 3 million tons of carbon emissions annuallyemissions annually. .

• Many municipal governments, including Seattle, San Many municipal governments, including Seattle, San Francisco and Denver, require a climate action plan, Francisco and Denver, require a climate action plan, and state environmental regulatory agencies are and state environmental regulatory agencies are requesting GHG inventory documentation as part of a requesting GHG inventory documentation as part of a state National Environmental Policy Act.state National Environmental Policy Act.

Energy StatisticsEnergy Statistics

• Aviation accounts for 9% of the total Aviation accounts for 9% of the total transportation energy use.transportation energy use.

• Highway transportation (cars, light trucks, Highway transportation (cars, light trucks, and medium/heavy trucks) make up and medium/heavy trucks) make up almost 80% of transportation energy use almost 80% of transportation energy use and contribute a similar level of GHGs. and contribute a similar level of GHGs.

General vs. Commercial AviationGeneral vs. Commercial Aviation

• General aviation accounts for less than General aviation accounts for less than one percent of the total transportation one percent of the total transportation energy use in the United States.energy use in the United States.

• General aviation’s fuel use is one-seventh General aviation’s fuel use is one-seventh the amount of commercial air carriers’ fuel the amount of commercial air carriers’ fuel usage.usage.

NATA’s Environmental InitiativesNATA’s Environmental Initiatives

• NATA established an Environmental Committee to develop NATA established an Environmental Committee to develop programs designed to assist member companies in programs designed to assist member companies in minimizing their impact on the environment. minimizing their impact on the environment.

• NATA is establishing a program to make carbon offsets NATA is establishing a program to make carbon offsets available to member companies, which includes a 3- to 4-available to member companies, which includes a 3- to 4-cent per gallon carbon offset based on the Chicago Climate cent per gallon carbon offset based on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCE). CCE is the only voluntary, legally binding Exchange (CCE). CCE is the only voluntary, legally binding integrated trading system to reduce emissions of all six integrated trading system to reduce emissions of all six major GHGs, with offset projects worldwide. major GHGs, with offset projects worldwide.

• NATA encourages its member companies to meet proper NATA encourages its member companies to meet proper environmental compliance standards, including a Spill environmental compliance standards, including a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure plan if fuel is stored Prevention Control and Countermeasure plan if fuel is stored above ground in tankers.above ground in tankers.

Support Air Traffic ModernizationSupport Air Traffic Modernization

• Support Next Generation Air Transportation System Support Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen):(NextGen): NextGen is the FAA’s national plan to transform NextGen is the FAA’s national plan to transform the air traffic control system from a ground-based navigation the air traffic control system from a ground-based navigation system using radar to a satellite-based system. system using radar to a satellite-based system.

• FAA Reauthorization legislation will provide the resources to FAA Reauthorization legislation will provide the resources to enable the FAA to make repairs and upgrades to existing enable the FAA to make repairs and upgrades to existing facilities and equipment, and provide for high-priority safety-facilities and equipment, and provide for high-priority safety-related systems. related systems.

• NextGen technology will allow more aircraft and routes to be NextGen technology will allow more aircraft and routes to be determined within the airspace. And most importantly, determined within the airspace. And most importantly, utilizing new technologies to improve airspace usage will utilizing new technologies to improve airspace usage will enable aircraft to fly routes more directly, thereby minimizing enable aircraft to fly routes more directly, thereby minimizing noise and the impact on the environment.noise and the impact on the environment.

ConclusionConclusion

• The demand for air travel is increasing The demand for air travel is increasing steadily. steadily.

• The FAA projects that by 2025 the number The FAA projects that by 2025 the number of domestic enplanements will have of domestic enplanements will have doubled to 1,482 million per year. doubled to 1,482 million per year.

• The environmental impact of air travel is The environmental impact of air travel is increasingly important to consumers, and increasingly important to consumers, and the aviation industry is collaborating to the aviation industry is collaborating to address this important issue.address this important issue.