SESAR

Because environment matters

The aviation industry has made significant technological progress in the past four decades. As a consequence, noise from aircraft was reduced by 75% and emissions intensity by 70% . However, emissions from aviation currently account for about 3% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions, but they are increasing fast – by 87% since 1990 – as air traffic registered significant growth in the last years. But the environmental impact of aviation is not limited to global emissions. Air transport also has effects on local air quality or noise levels – especially around airports. The SESAR programme tackles all three of these to make flying more sustainable.

Early Results

Download a summary of Aire Projects Results (March 2010)

Green ATM

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Environment & SESAR

Air traffic management affects when, how far, how high, how fast and how efficiently aircraft fly. These parameters in turn influence how much fuel an aircraft burns, the release of greenhouse and other gases from the engines and, of course, how much noise an aircraft emanates.

Currently, flight paths often follow set air corridors that make the route longer than necessary. On arrival at the destination the aircraft may have to circle in a holding pattern or descend in stages while awaiting a landing slot. All of these factors increase fuel consumption, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. SESAR technology will enable more direct flight paths and smooth descent and climb that will eliminate some of the main causes of avoidable waste.

Within the SESAR programme most out of the almost 300 projects include environmental aspects of aviation. They concern aircraft noise management and mitigation, aircraft fuel use and emissions management, as well as water pollution, etc. But environmental aspects are dealt with in all of the 16 work packages. The Joint Undertaking’s role is to establish environmental sustainability as an integral aspect of broader ATM development and operating processes.

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Partnership with AIRE programme

The Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE) is a programme designed to improve energy efficiency and lower engine emissions and aircraft noise in cooperation with the FAA. The SESAR JU is responsible for its management from a European perspective.

Main AIRE objectives are:

Jointly validate solutions that reduce CO2 emissions in the short term
No, or little, R&D needed (capitalise on present aircraft capabilities)
Demonstrate benefits by performing flight trials in real operations
Communicate the initiative as an example on how the industry is reducing its environmental impact

Under AIRE ATM stakeholders work collaboratively to perform integrated flight trials and demonstrations validating solutions for the reduction of CO2 emissions for surface, terminal and oceanic operations to substantially accelerate the pace of change.

The strategic objective is to produce constant step-based improvements, to be implemented as quickly as possible following the conclusion of the projects in order to contribute to the achievement of environmental savings. In 2009, the SESAR JU co financed more than 1000 flight trials performed in real operational conditions with 18 partners. In 2010, 18 new projects were launched involving 40 airline, airport, ANSP and industry partners expanding significantly the initiative. More than 5000 trials are foreseen.

Seven of the 18 ongoing projects include green gate-to-gate projects, among others between France and the French West Indies. One highlight of the programme will be a series of green transatlantic flights with the Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial aircraft.

Read more on AIRE in 2010/11.