Reducing aircraft noise near airports, and the number of people affected by it, is one of the most effective ways in which public perceptions of business aviation can be improved.
That was a message delivered by International Business Aviation Council director general Donald Spruston during October's National Business Aviation Association Congress.
During presentations on business aviation and climate change, the council made it clear that the sector has its duties to the environment, but it also has to influence public perceptions if it is to win the political support it needs.
Based on four "pillars" - improved technology, infrastructure and operational improvements, alternative fuel usage and market-based measures - business aviation's environmental strategy is intended to achieve carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and a 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050, compared with 2005 levels.
Spruston makes clear that the less is achieved through the first three means, the more operators will have to pay via market-based methods like carbon trading, which is the only option for meeting environmental obligations until the other changes are achieved.
Source: Flight International
