Promotes "Cleaner Aircraft Made In Greener Way"
The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) has published
the tenth of its briefing papers examining how the industry can
reduce further its impact on the environment. The latest examines
the way in which the manufacturing process can be improved to
support the development of cleaner and greener aircraft... and
makes for some interesting reading.
From the SBAC:
The four phases of an aircraft's
approximately 40 year product life-cycle (design, manufacture, use
and disposal) are all interdependent. Difficulties abound in
seeking to improve the environmental performance of an aircraft
through its life because changes in one phase may have consequences
for another. The briefing paper sets out the activities being
undertaken by the industry to ensure that new aircraft are better
for the environment in all four phases of its life.
Policy, regulation and a company's own
environmental targets are effective in making manufacturing
processes leaner, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.
Although complying with regulations can have significant
implications for manufacturers -- including increased costs,
changes in manufacturing processes and even changes to product
availability - they can also offer cost and performance benefits.
The demand for new, greener aircraft has never been greater.
However, new products require new materials, processes, skills and
equipment thereby presenting new manufacturing challenges.
As an example of this new way of
working, the Airbus A380 not only delivers carbon dioxide emissions
per passenger kilometre comparable to a car that is exempt from the
London congestion charge but it was also the first aircraft where
decommissioning tests were undertaken as part of the pre-service
testing.
An exhibit at the recent Farnborough
Airshow also demonstrated to members of the public how an aircraft
can be recycled and the vast majority of the materials re-used.
"The aviation industry is not only
producing ever-cleaner aircraft but it is doing so in an
increasingly green way," said Ian Godden, SBAC Chief Executive.
"Throughout the life cycle of an aircraft - from design through
manufacture and use to disposal -- the focus is now on
delivering a reduced environmental impact.
"The aviation industry has made major
strides in reducing its impact on the environment - currently just
two per cent of the total global, man-made, carbon dioxide
emissions. In the last fifty years we have reduced fuel burn - and
therefore carbon dioxide emissions - by seventy per cent and we aim
to cut this by a further fifty per cent of 2000 levels by 2020.
"The challenge is to match these aims
and achievements in the use phase of the aircraft throughout its
life cycle. In such a complex field as aviation there are many
obstacles to overcome. However, our industry is known for its
innovation and problem-solving capacity and I believe that we are
geared up for the challenge."