UK air navigation service provider NATS has promised to reduce the emissions by aircraft it controls by 10% per flight by 2020.
The provider has just completed a research project to determine how much carbon dioxide is emitted by aircraft in UK airspace, and to determine what the potential savings are as planned service improvements are enabled over the next 11 years.
NATS researchers have calculated that 26 million tonnes of CO2 is emitted in UK airspace annually. It says this is its benchmark for the planned reductions, to be achieved through shorter routeings, greener airport approaches and departures and enabling optimum en-route flight levels.
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Chief executive Paul Barron says: "This is a testing target in challenging times, but aviation is making strides to be more sustainable and air traffic control must play its part. What this research shows is that we can make a difference. Safety will always be our first priority, but environmental responsibility will become part of our day-to-day work. We are determined to take this big step to leave behind a smaller carbon footprint."
Barron adds that 70,000t of CO2 had already been saved over the past year through improved airspace management and design changes.
Source: Flight International
