The Hindu Business Line : Airline sector flying into eco-friendly zone

The global airline industry is serious about going green although not all flyers may realise this. A passenger flying with Japan Airlines may not find that the spoon is lighter by two gm or notice that American Airlines now only paints its signature red, white and blue stripes on the bare metal of the aircraft rather than on the entire fuselage.

These steps, maintain the airlines, will help reduce the weight of the aircraft, which, in turn, will burn less fuel and thus decrease pollution.

The results, say some airlines, are already showing. American Airlines estimates that the decision not to paint the entire aircraft has helped reduce its weight and thereby the fuel-burn by almost 12 million gallons a year, cutting carbon emissions by 1,14,000 tonnes.

Similarly, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has mitigated the effects of climate change by improving the fuel efficiency of its aircraft. The airline’s 2006-07 Environment Report estimates that the fuel saving initiatives achieved a reduction of 355.7 million kg in fuel consumption, resulting in reduced emissions of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Airlines are also experimenting by using fuel that pollutes less. In February this year, Virgin Atlantic operated its first flight using bio-fuel. The Boeing 747-400 aircraft flew from London Heathrow to Amsterdam using this environmentally friendly fuel.

The results of the bio-fuel usage will be shared with other airlines in the rest of the industry that are seeking to cut carbon emissions, the President of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson, said.

Admitting that the wide scale use of such fuel was still several years away, Sir Richard said that no modifications were made to either the aircraft or the engines for the flight to be operated.

Down to the smallest thing

At the industry level, the 240 airlines that are members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have agreed to a four-pronged strategy on climate change that includes investing in new technology, building and using the available infrastructure more efficiently apart from operating aircraft more efficiently. So serious is the commitment of many international carriers to go green that they are concentrating on other small details as well. Hence, many of them are recycling paper, plastic, aluminium, glass and believe it or not, even wine bottle corks.

Even engine manufacturers and aircraft manufacturers are contributing their bit so while the Virgin test flight was undertaken in partnership with Boeing GE Aviation and Imperium Renewables, another airline is getting set to test-fly with a Rolls Royce engine later this year.

The two major aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, too are pitching in. The Airbus A-380, that entered service last year, is helping Singapore Airline deliver a 21 per cent reduction in fuel burn per seat mile over its next largest competitor aircraft, according to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chew Choon Seng. The newest Boeing aircraft, the Boeing 787, which is to enter service in the third quarter of next year, will use composite material that will further reduce the aircraft weight.

Air India initiative

Closer home, Air India is also taking steps to become environmentally sustainable. Last year, the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with General Electric Company for environment-friendly programmes and practices.

According to the MoU, GE will deliver aircraft engines from its ecomagination portfolio, including GE-90-115B engines for the Boeing 777-303 Ers and the Genx engines for the Boeing 787-800 aircraft ordered by Air India. Apart from aircraft engines, GE will partner with Air India to convert its headquarters into a green building through eco-friendly technologies.

The attempts to go green are being made possibly to beat the 2050 deadline of becoming a zero CO2 emitting industry, set by IATA. And to change the perception that it is one of the most polluting industries even though it generates less than 2 per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions.

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