56
Flightpath.
» AIR NAVIGATION
More efficient air traffic control procedures and the better use of airspace have saved 800,000 tonnes of CO2 since 2008, a report from NATS shows. The savings equate to cutting $240 million from airline fuel bills. The UK’s leading air traffic control company has released a five year retrospective report on its environment programme, highlighting the initiatives it has introduced to cut airline fuel costs and minimise CO2. Since 2008, NATS has pioneered a number of practical and technological changes designed to optimise airspace and aircraft performance. The unique 3Di airspace efficiency metric, introduced in 2012, allows NATS to measure the environmental efficiency of every aircraft under its control, while 125 airspace changes have unlocked more direct routes and further savings. The introduction of iFACTS alone — NATS’ next generation air traffic control tool — is estimated to be saving 10,000 tonnes of fuel, worth $9 million a year. iFACTS gives controllers a view of the future track and trajectory of the aircraft under their control so they can optimise routes for fuel and emissions savings. Ian Jopson, head of environment and community affairs at NATS, was proud of the company’s achievements: “We have made great progress over the past five years, but as we celebrate these successes we must also look to the future. “Our work towards delivering the next generation of air traffic management infrastructure, tools and operating concepts will provide a step-change in our environmental performance, but this work needs investment and against a backdrop of economic pressures we will need to innovate to continue delivering.” As well as changes in the skies, over the past seven years, NATS has introduced a number of sustainability measures on the ground too. Since 2008, NATS’ energy consumption has fallen 29%, with water usage also dropping by 45%. F.
NATS REVEALS BIG GAINS
1
» MANUFACTURERS
UNESCO’s patronage of the Airbus Fly Your Ideas competition “reflects the urgent, growing need to attract and nurture future talent.” said Lidia Brito, UNESCO’s director for science policy and capacity building. “Finding sustainable solutions depends on our capacity to work together and innovate, and Fly Your Ideas gives young people the opportunity to do just this.” This year saw the third edition of this unique competition, attracting over 600 teams from around the world. Each team submitted a proposal responding to one of six challenges set out by Airbus for aviation in the 21st century: energy; energy efficiency; affordable growth; traffic growth; passenger experience; community friendliness. “At Airbus, we work in a world of ‘unobtainiums’: solutions for seemingly impossible challenges that shape the way we live — like those that made air travel a reality. We want students to adopt that innovative spirit in Fly Your Ideas 2013.” Said Charles Champion, executive vice president engineering at Airbus and patron of the Fly Your Ideas competition. Fly Your Ideas brings together students from around the world and over 200 Airbus employees, involved as assessors, experts and mentors for the teams