All matters environmental are sensitive and aviation has been in the cross-hairs of the environmental lobby for a long time. Somehow the substantial improvements already made and those in the pipeline have not generated the level of interest they deserve. The fact that the still hopelessly inefficient air traffic management system in places like Europe… Continue reading The EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) – why the fuss?
Category: Environment – Without hot air
Frank views about aviation and the environment without the usual hot air
Airbus to support FAA Greener Skies Initiative with ATM expertise
Airbus has been selected to provide Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Performance Based Navigation (PBN) expertise for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Greener Skies Initiative. As part of Boeing’s FAA System Engineering 2020 (SE-2020) team, Airbus will identify procedures which fully utilize aircraft precision navigation capabilities to reduce fuel burn, lower emissions and decrease noise.… Continue reading Airbus to support FAA Greener Skies Initiative with ATM expertise
Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) for aviation needs major repair
When you drive on France’s motorways, you pay for the privilege. In return you get first class asphalt, nice rest areas and a means to cover the vast distances of that country safely and efficiently. When Austria introduced their road toll system, the money went to refurbishing their aging motorways and to building new ones.… Continue reading Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) for aviation needs major repair
Believe it or not…
While a lot of people, including the environmental lobby, seem to have some difficulty in believing that aviation contributes a mere 2 % of the emissions thought to be responsible for global warning, the same people and many others apparently have no problem with believing the utter nonsense painted on the side of some electric… Continue reading Believe it or not…
The rise and fall of an alien industrial spy
As soon as teleporting was perfected for the military in a far corner of the galaxy, the first assignment for the new system was to send an agent to Earth to check out the source of incessant radio noise and strange video images alternately showing humans killing each other or pairing in strange ways often involving acrobatics… Continue reading The rise and fall of an alien industrial spy
When winglets turn green – Continental flies on bio-fuel
It is more than a year ago now, but on 7 January 2009 Continental Airlines was the first US airline to conduct a bio-fuel test flight with one of their Boeing 737-800s. One engine was running on a mixture of traditional jet fuel, algae and jatropha oil. The 73 got a special paint job for… Continue reading When winglets turn green – Continental flies on bio-fuel
Volcanic ash and jet engines do not mix
Although the following pictures have appeared on several sites already, we thought it would be interesting to provide them also on Roger-Wilco. They show clearly what happens when a jet engine flies through a volcanic ash cloud. The plane is a Cessna Citation that flew out of Germany and they escaped because the other engine… Continue reading Volcanic ash and jet engines do not mix
Volcanic Ash – the Rationale for Removing the 60Nm buffer zone
The UK CAA has reviewed the current knowledge on the effects of volcanic ash and the accuracy of the forecasting models. The document describing the rationale for removing the buffer zone can be found here. This is good news for the aviation industry, not only because it will reduce some of the restrictions that have… Continue reading Volcanic Ash – the Rationale for Removing the 60Nm buffer zone
Flying AIRE – the pilot's view
AIRE (Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions) is a joint initiative between the European Commission and the FAA. It is the green component of the SESAR programme. In 2009, 1,152 flight trials in operational conditions were carried out on the European side. Claude Godel was the Pilot in Command of the first complete green transatlantic… Continue reading Flying AIRE – the pilot's view
Volcanic Ash, an awesome danger
Despite the great beauty of many things found in nature, some also present a great danger to mankinds’ activities. The unprecedented closure of so much of Europe’s airspace highlights the problems caused by volcanic ash. This is not just an issue for airlines and the travelling public, but also affects the whole economy and all… Continue reading Volcanic Ash, an awesome danger