Planes are an integral part of global operations. People use them daily for work and personal travel, but they also ship goods and double as emergency vehicles during time-sensitive medical situations.
The aviation industry is mitigating the effects of its global flights with initiatives changing sustainability from the ground up. Knowing more about them might help you feel better the next time you need to book a flight.
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How Does the Aviation Industry Affect the Environment?
The aviation industry affects the environment through active flights and constant airport operations. Airplanes emitted just over 420 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2022. Alongside that rising number of carbon emissions, airports also harm the environment through daily electricity usage and waste creation.
Although the aviation industry is known for its adverse effects on the environment, leadership teams in airports and brands are launching sustainable initiatives. Things are already starting to get greener.
Initiatives Changing Sustainability in the Aviation Industry
Substantial changes never happen overnight, but numerous initiatives are changing sustainability in aviation every day. Over time, they’ll reduce the industry’s long-term environmental impact.
1. New Engines Burn Fewer Fossil Fuels
When a plane starts its engines, the fans under each wing start turning. The air passes through the engine to combust the fuel and provide the propulsion the aircraft needs to gain speed.
New engines, like the HyTEC designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), decrease the air bypass ratio to provide more efficient thrust power without using as much fuel. Aviation companies can get new fleets using these engines so every flight automatically creates fewer carbon emissions.
2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel Is Becoming More Widely Available
Biofuel isn’t just for smart cars. It can also power airplanes. Companies like BP make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with animal waste fat and cooking oil, plus a small amount of fossil fuels. This initiative could benefit every plane worldwide.
Jets that run on SAF reduce flight emissions by up to 80% compared to planes using traditional fuel. As SAF producers lean toward other biomass options, the same research shows that this reduction could rise as high as 85%-95%.
3. Airport Vehicles Are Going Electric
When you’re waiting in an airport terminal, you’ll likely see different types of vehicles rushing around the tarmac just outside the windows. They’re tugging planes, baggage containers and even equipment to respond to emergencies. They burn fossil fuels to operate, but those models may become part of the past.
Airport leadership teams are switching their maintenance vehicles to electric alternatives as electric models become more available. This also includes using electric passenger buses to shuttle people around in airport parking lots.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is leading the way with this initiative. It expects to have an entirely electric fleet by 2031 as it gradually shifts to greener transportation options. If more airports reach the same milestone, they’ll have significantly smaller carbon footprints even while operating around the clock.
4. Air Traffic Control Techniques Are Adapting
The air traffic control tower is a mystery to the average passenger. The teams inside communicate messages to every incoming and outgoing flight, including when they have authorization to land. Approving specific landing techniques could benefit the planet, even while it doesn’t result in any notable change to the average consumer.
Research shows that planes landing in a continuous descent reduce their emissions by 150 kilograms of CO2 per flight, which is a significant amount in such a short period. It’s another way for each flight to have a smaller carbon footprint in addition to efforts like carbon offsetting or using biofuel.
5. On-Board Food Is Getting More Personalized
The free snacks and beverages included in the average flight might hit the spot but also generate waste. Consider how often you’ve tossed a half-eaten bag of peanuts in the garbage. Aviation industry leaders are fighting this common form of airport waste by personalizing menu options on flights.
Some airlines ask passengers to submit their snack and beverage preferences before boarding. It minimizes potential food waste by ensuring people only get the menu selections they want.
How menu options reach passengers is also an issue people debate. Most of the food and meal supplies come in plastic, which isn’t a great material for the environment. However, some packaging is necessary due to the highly regulated food and beverage restrictions on planes.
Others argue that food and drinks aren’t necessary on every flight. Although people on short trips can do without snacks, beverages are crucial parts of a passenger’s experience. They keep people safe by supporting their health. The air pressure in a commercial cabin reduces blood oxygen by 5%-20%, leading to dehydration.
Optimizing how menu options work is the best way to keep passengers safe and satisfied while improving operations for the environment. Ordering ahead of the flight to reduce waste is a simple strategy that could become more popular with time.
6. More Efficient Tarmac Timing Is Improving Air Quality
Planes on runways and in terminals burn fossil fuels whether they’re moving or not. Improving the efficiency of tarmac timing for each flight will reduce how long they need to use their engines. Aircraft that sit for shorter periods emit fewer carbon emissions.
Keeping emissions low on the tarmac also improves air quality for nearby residents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partners with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to set limits on airport emissions and make the air safe to breathe for surrounding communities. However, those standards can get even more strict if airports optimize their tarmac timing. They’ll reduce emissions and meet higher air quality standards set by U.S. and international regulators as the industry pushes for greener changes.
7. Additional Airports Are Collecting Rainwater
Traditional concrete can’t absorb rainwater. It pushes runoff that includes jet fuel and chemicals on the tarmac into the environment. Collecting that rainwater could significantly help.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is a leader in rainwater collection within the aviation industry. It catches water runoff from over 33 acres and funnels it through underground tanks. The tanks separate the water from pollutants before sending it back into the local groundwater aquifer for purification and community use. Other airports could do the same to protect local biomes and support their community’s needs.
8. AI Is Finding Optimized Routes
Artificial intelligence (AI) software is already helping airport operations worldwide. Teams use it to optimize flight routes to save time and fuel usage. The programs can instantaneously tell which flight patterns will use the least amount of fuel depending on the day’s weather and other factors. The real-time updates ensure planes limit their output of CO2 during each flight, which is a key part of making aviation more sustainable.
Aviation Is Getting Better for the Environment
Inspired engineers and eco-friendly consumers are motivating airline companies to go green. These initiatives could solve some of your climate-related worries and make you feel more comfortable when flying.