Green Aviation the future

Green Aviation the Future
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Abstract
In the aviation industry, there are normally two major concerns as far as environmental pollution is concerned. They include noise pollution and gasses emissions. Addressing the issue of pollution require critical evaluation of alternative energy sources to plan ahead for greener aviation. It is vital to note that aircraft is becoming common and several people are increasingly considering it as their means of transport. It implies that its demand in the near future will increase forcing airlines to increase their fleets to meet the increasing demand. Understanding the current situation and predicting the future is important in mitigating the potential environmental impact that airports may face in future. The paper provides a critical analysis of green aviation in certain areas such as noise pollution, the environmental risks, aircraft operations and greenhouses gases being produced airport operations. The analysis will take into account the current environmental policies that seek to promote green aviation, reduce noise pollution and to improve the quality of air.
Introduction
For many years, the aerospace has been considered as a major polluter. Such concerns have been associated with global warming which has been a big global issue for a long time. The pollution effects caused by airplanes take certain forms such as the aggravation created via aircraft noise and aircraft engine emission.

“Green aviation” is the pursuit of reductions gas emissions, fuel usage, and noise. Some of the ways to achieve this could be pursuing quieter engines through optimization of fan, turbine, and compressor construction and acoustic liners. For instance, Rolls Royce has managed to minimize engine noise for Boeing and Airbus customers. As a matter of fact, Boeing 787 is known for fuel efficiency and also utilizes a quitter engine for this goal of green aviation. The paper seeks to various methods that can be considered to minimize the noise and environment impacts and also to introduce the use of renewable energy sources to create the future green aviation.
The aviation industry has significant impacts on the environment because it is a large global industry. It contributes to about 2% of the global artificial emission of CO2 according to the “United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” (IPCC) (Stanfield, 2016). Despite the increasing traveler numbers in the industry every year, the industry is constantly looking for ways to minimize its discharges. The industry has had enormous interests in innovation and facilitated activities to implement new working procedures, considering the increasing aircraft fleets. More aircraft will be taking off and landing at the airport, creating more emissions in the environment and noise which affects the public nearby. Consequently, it is likely that there will be airport expansion and more electricity will be required to sustain the operations. The scope is to understand the impacts of environmental pollution that are associated with aviation and recommend methods to create greener aviation for the environment to improve the air quality, reduce noise near the airport and introduce renewable energy sources to save the environment.
Aircraft Noise
When an aircraft takes off or when it lands, the noise it produces can be a nuisance to the public nearby. The noise normally comes from the aircraft engines. In most instances, bigger planes with maximum capacity normally produce louder sound (Limer, 2016). The noise that comes from the engines, more so during landing and take-off may affect people lives. The long duration of exposure to this loud noise could lead to sleep disruptions, stress, hearing impairment, coronary heart disease or even death from stroke.
Aircraft Noise Impacts
As mentioned earlier, aircraft is becoming common and more people are increasingly using it as their means of transport. Therefore, the air traffic keeps on increasing which leads to increase in the noise pollution. Increasing noise pollution affects millions of people, more so those who live around airports. Studies indicate that noise can be related to certain health problems according to the “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.” When we talk about noise pollution, many people often narrow it to hearing loss which is contrary to various studies which indicate that long exposure to high level of noise it will cause high blood pressure, lost productivity and cardiovascular diseases (Stanfield, 2016).
Noise Certification
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is one agency that largely regulates aviation operations in the US. Apart from certification of airworthiness of aircraft, the agency also sets standards for international aircraft noise. Noise pollution can be categorized in four various stages in aviation. For commercial jets, an aircraft which is categorized as stage I is the loudest while that which has been categorized as stage 4 represents the quietest aircraft. FAA has come up with various programs tighten up the aircraft noise and identify certain solutions that can mitigate the noise impact that normally affects the public. The body also seeks to enlighten the public on the steps it is pursuing to address the concerns of noise from aviation industry (Aircraft noise issues, 2016). The body has various community initiatives that seek to develop programs on noise control to ensure a quieter environment in the airports and the areas that surround them. Such programs include measures of noise control such as operational flight control measures, soundproofing, better flight plan strategies and adoption of quitter aircraft in future. Thus, FAA has a duty to provide better airspace navigation, control environmental and noise impacts and ensure flight safety in the aviation industry.
Noise Environment in the Airport

Figure 1
The graph above is based on Luftfahrt Bewegt airline noise report in 2015. The graph indicates the flight and passenger movements from 1991 to 2014 at German airports. From the graph, it is noticeable that the passengers have increased significantly compared to the number of flights over the years. The increase in passengers doesn’t correlate with the flight movement. The number passengers increased by 168% from the year 1991 to 2014, but the flight movements only went up by 57% which a relatively smaller percentage (Stanfield, 2016). It implies that for the past 20 years, the increase of the number of passengers has been higher than the flights. Consequently, this increase doesn’t mean that the airports have been chaotic regarding congestion because of the enlarged number of passengers over the years. Aviation companies started using larger aircrafts to accommodate the increasing number of passengers to their designated locations instead of acquiring many small aircrafts. The move has helped reduce the emission of CO2. However, large aircraft do not address the aspect of noise it which affects the people who live around airports.

Figure 2
The graph above is based on the Luftfahrt Bewegt airline noise report which shows the increase in the emissions of noise from 1950 to 2010 (“Aircraft noise report,” 2015). It shows a decline in the level of noise which is attributed to the development of newer aircraft technology in the aviation industry. With time, the newer aircraft technologies are being developed which lead to quieter engines hence the continuous reduction in the noise levels. Huge investments have been made to improve the latest generation planes to take the place of the existing planes. The improved technology has helped improve better fuel efficiency and reduced decibel noise levels. For instance, Boeing 78-8 which is the latest aircraft has the lowest decibel noise levels, representing 80% decrease (“Aircraft noise report,” 2015). Considering the design of this aircraft, it is lighter and is comprised of the latest modifications that minimize noise sufficiently compared to the predecessors.
A research was conducted by the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” (NASA) to come up with noise reduction technology on the Boeing 787. It developed a chevron nozzle design which has round and smooth nozzle that changes downstream engine flow to minimize the noise at the edge of aircraft engines. The development of the chevron nozzle was a significant step in the fundamental research to create new ideas and concepts that can help provide significant noise reduction and also optimize the efficiency of planes.
Noise Limitations for Commercial Aircraft
The FAA has put in place certain standards or noise limitations depending on the type of aircraft which determined the airworthiness certificate to be issued. The agency regulates the maximum noise levels by individual planes through such certification standards. The “Code of Federal Regulations” (CFR) defines the maximum noise levels which reflect the differed stages that an aircraft is supposed to be categorized. It is normally a requirement for aircraft to comply with these noise standards in the event its airworthiness has been certified in the US. Such regulations are vital because lack of proper control measures will lead to increase in the engine noise which affects the people surrounding the airport. Thus, the process of noise certification is critical because it helps ensure the implementation of the safest and airworthy technologies of noise reduction to minimize the impacts.
Noise Footprints

Figure 3
The figure above demonstrates departure visualizations of the noise levels and how the surrounding of the airport is affected (Vinkx, 2016). Some of the noise footprint in the figure above can be identified by visualization of new departure procedures as shown. The noise intensity has been represented by various colours. The levels of the noise range from 60 to 80 decibels, with green and red representing the lower and higher end of the spectrum respectively. The idea high noise levels during landing and take-off has an explanation. The plane normally generates relatively more thrust from engines and also burns more fuel in order to create the lift to pull it off from the runway. The engine noise only reduces when the aircraft has gained a certain altitude and become stable in the air. Therefore, the noise levels of the can be identified from the footprint and it at maximum on the paths of taking off and landing.

Figure 4
The figure above denotes various approach paths developed by Frankfurt airport for landing. The populated regions have been bypassed to minimize the impact of noise (“Aircraft noise report,” 2015). For a plane that takes a standardized approach, the noise footprints can be greater. It is more evident for planes under the category of those that produce higher levels of noise. It is because; there is always an increase in drag to slow the aircraft while landing, which increases the levels of noise. There is also an increase in the drag when adjusting the altitude or the speed of an aircraft. The noise resulting from such planes would inevitably affect people within the airport surroundings. Based on figure 4, there are minimal flight paths for pilots to approach the runway for landing in the Airport. The airport has provided segmented approach while landing to take certain routes to avoid affecting the people around the airport.
Aircraft Noise Management
Aircraft noise management is one of the many ways of pursuing green aviation. Planes of all kinds have to observe noise certification standards of the “International Civil Aviation Organization” (ICAO). The organization has come up an approach to aircraft noise management through the adoption of Resolution A33-7. Based on this approach, there aren’t cookie-cutter methodologies of solving the issue of noise because various situations are normally unique. It implies that the available options need to be evaluated to come up with the optimal method of addressing certain noise problems. A balanced approach may consist of four key elements. They include land-use management measures, reduction of aircraft noise at sources, noise abatement procedures and operating restrictions.
Reduction of Noise at Source

Figure 5
The figure above indicates the points of noise measurements. It takes reference from the approach and flyover to certify the aircraft noise level. Based on the above figure, airport noise certification usually draws the reference from flyover points because most aircraft use jet engines that have high bypass ratio. The new designs currently emphasize on better fuel efficiency and lighter weight as a result of new technological development. The industry has thus witnessed stringent improvements in noise standards. The reason for noise certification is vital because it helps identify the amount of noise from the aircraft design. It also demonstrates the daily operations that bring about the noise impacts within the environs of the airport while complying with the noise certification of ICAO.

Figure 6
The above figure represents the various chapters of noise standards introduced by ICAO which have been stringent on the standards of noise levels. Based on the figure above, chapter 14 reduces the noise levels significantly to 245 DB. The aircraft designs based on the figure above have been improved significantly. Consequently, the noise standards have more stringent to enhance reduction of noise. The stringent standard decrease from the previous noise standards is monitored the chapter 14 which was introduced in 2014 by ICAO. In future, the ICAO aircraft noise standards may be the pillar for propeller-driven airplanes and subsonic jets.
Land Use Planning & Management
It is vital to note that apart from the airport itself, there are also other facilities near the airport area such as schools, churches, public areas, factories house estates and other businesses. It is only responsible for ensuring that the airport environs are not polluted with exercise noise that would affect such other activities. It can be achieved by identifying and minimizing the impact on the people that are affected by the noise from aircraft. Areas that are very sensitive but are greatly affected by noise levels can be taken care of by zoning around the airports. It helps reduce that rates at which people get exposed to loud aircraft noise. The affected populations may severely suffer due to lack of various strategies to address noise pollution. The airport management may be on the spot due to numerous complaints from the residents around the airport.
“Noise Abatement Operational Procedure”
The ICAO is normally responsible for development and standardizations of the operational procedures of low noise (“Noise Abatement Operational Procedures,” 2017). The cost-effective and safer developments include noise preferential routes as well as runways and abatement procedures for taking off and landing. Measures to deal with noise pollution rely partly on the airport configurations such as aprons, taxiways and runway platforms. It is to ensure better handling of airplane movements on the ground to reduce the impacts of noise on the surrounding population. The airport needs to set up on a location that is not surrounded by schools, hospitals, and residential homes. This would help reduce the night time flying operations, minimize jet blast operation, limit the intervals of flying for departure and landing and also apply the noise abatement procedures techniques. Finally, the use of preferred runways for landing and take-off gives pilots the nearest routs for aircraft taxiing. It brings about effective utilization of the runways and taxiway to reduce the holding time for the departure. It also minimizes the landing time and movements of airplanes in the sky.
Operation Restrictions
During the day, the noise levels seem to be less compared to the evening and night time. Therefore, there are certain restrictions that apply to night flying in the airport. The nighttime flying restrictions normally rely on the flying hours and also the number of flights that are involved during night hours. The time between 11 pm and 6 am is the most critical time to reduce noise and nuisance which leads to sleeping interference. Therefore, it is the time when there should be few flights compared to the day. The pilots and the maintenance crew may take advantage of the time when aircraft are not flying to undertake the necessary checks on the plane before resuming the normal flight. The pilots may also perform the continuous descend method in order to minimize the noise impact on the surrounding communities. The approach may increase the altitude gain and lower the aircraft thrust to the minimum while the plane is on the glide slope for landing.

Figure 7
The above figure is an illustration of airlines that operate from 6 am to 10 pm in the German airport. The figure shows that there certain restrictions that are attributed to night flying in the airport. The night flight ban for the first airport commences from 7 pm while that of the second airport commences from 10 pm. The approach helps minimize the impact of noise on the communities living around during these periods (“Aircraft noise report,” 2015). Based on the figure above, there are tight controls of the scheduled flights during the night which helps to reduce the number of airplanes operating during that period. However, it is vital to note that there could be some exceptions as far as nigh operations are concerned. Some cases may be exceptional due to circumstances like delays and changes of flight timing. The airport also allows only the quieter planes such as Boeing 787 for landing and taking off due to its better design for noise control. It restricts the movements of aircrafts on runways, aprons, taxiways and also flying operations in the sky to minimize the noise and prevent the disturbance to the residents.
The Los Angeles World Airports is another example of an airport that works closely with FAA to put in place various procedures of noise abatements. The airport has also managed to implement restrictions to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on the community around LAWA. Other strategies that have been implemented to cut down aircraft noise around the airport include “Over Ocean Operations, maintenance restrictions from 11 pm to 6 am, Preferential Runway Use procedures, and voluntary noise abatement procedures” (LAWA noise management at LAX, 2017). Another illustration is the “The Chicago Department of Aviation’s Airport Noise Management System” (ANMS) which is a robust system that covers a wide range framework to give an accurate estimation of the flying machine. It can also detect commotion and the capacity of disorder in Chicago neighborhoods around O’Hare and Midway. The coordinated framework incorporates numerous parts, including a system of lasting commotion screens that measure the clamor environment and a framework straightforwardly associated with the FAA’s airport regulation radar that gathers airplane flight tracks. There is enough soundproof system within the airport to cushion the passengers in the airport from outward noise.
Boeing Aircraft Development with Reduction of Noise
The latest Boeing 787 uses composite materials to cut own weight of the plane which also increases fuel efficiency, considering its size as well as its capability. It was also developed that way to enhance quieter engine technology. Specialist and engineers of the company identified ways to design the plane from tail to tip to improve its performance and minimize noise pollution. The enhancement of the engine’s thrust which was accomplished by the General Electric and Roll Royce led to a new generation engine with greater performance capability. The new engine can enhance the efficiency by 8% and also burn 20% less fuel unlike other aircraft models (Benjamin, 2010).

Figure 8
The above figure shows the designs of Boeing 787 and also 747 engines. The engines were designed with the chevron nozzle in order to smoothen the flow of air from the engines. It also changes the downstream flow to minimize the noise at the edge of the airplane engines. The design also reduces the turbulence which affects the impact of noise (Nerds, 2017). The turbine engines generate a thrust force that allows more air to pass through the engines and compress it through the combustion chamber. The compressed air will generate higher pressure and temperature from the combustion chamber hence moving the air forward. When the air passes out from the chamber, a hot is generated from the nozzle of the engine. The noise due to the jet engine relies largely on the velocity of the exit jet engine because its turbofan cold air mixes with hot air and this makes it possible to keep the air velocity within limits. Hence, the turbofans, having quieter exhaust and better fuel economy help address the problem of noise and also dominate the engine propulsion system. Considering figure 8, the nozzle was built to change the downstream flows from the engine of the bypass duct to prevent the two air flows from mixing (Nerds, 2017). The edges of the chevron also offer a smooth mixing between the cool and hot air that blows from the engine, reducing the turbulence which creates noise.
Aviation Emissions in the Airport Environment
In the aviation industry, airplanes are the major contributor to emissions. They burn a lot of fuel particularly from the engine combustions which is very high during take-off and landing. As a result, it increased the level of pollutant emissions in the atmosphere such as “Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Hydrocarbons (HC) and Carbon Monoxide (CO).” about 90% of the pollutant emissions are emitted at altitudes above three thousand feet. The remaining 10% are normally emitted close to ground Aviation Emissions (Impacts & Mitigation, 2015). However, HC and CO are exceptional because they are often produced when the plane is on the ground during low combustion efficiency.
Emissions Impact to the Environment
As much as emissions from aviation industry affect the global climate and air quality, it is relatively a small contributor as far as overall pollution is concerned (Impacts & Mitigation, 2015). However, emission from aviation contributes significantly to climate change which may lead to serious repercussions for humans and also the environment. According to the “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” (EPA), over 80% of greenhouse gas emission in the US is comprised of CO2. The climatic impacts of pollution are often complex in nature considering the direct effects such as CO2 emissions and indirect effects. The indirect effects may include changes in the distributions and concentrations of O3 and methane (CH4) due to NOx emissions (Impacts & Mitigation, 2015). Part of pollutant emissions also originates from fossil fuel burning. The consequences of climate change range from effects on agricultural industry to effects on food supply. It also worsens the aspect of global warming which has been a great concern worldwide. Global warming has often been associated with wildlife fires, extreme storms and poor air quality among other effects.
Carbon Footprints
Carbon footprints are often associated with greenhouse gases which are directly or indirectly enhanced by human activities. Airport operations are also part of human activities that contribute to carbon footprints. The aircraft, airport vehicles and other ground equipment normally use gasoline or even diesel to support their operations. The combustion of these fuels inevitably causes emissions that go to the environment as pollutants. It is vital to note that the amount of carbon footprint from individual plane also relies on the take-off and landing combustion from engines and also the attitude of the plane. Failure to minimize the carbon footprint may have dire impacts in a global environment, resulting in climate change. In the event that happens, the weather becomes erratic, leading to harsh atmospheric conditions which are not safe for aircraft operations.
Aircrafts Emissions Standards Control Act Regulations
The U.S. EPA is has a responsibility of regulating gas emissions that are produced by different kinds of aircraft engines. Based on the Clean Air Act and aircraft emission standards, all airplanes are supposed to comply with the set standards and the Clean Air Act. The EPA enforces these standards to make sure there is compliance with the stipulated regulations under section 232 of Clean Air Act. It sets out standards and controls which ensure identical standards are applicable to aircraft under clean air act section 234 (Emission standards, 2017). The purpose of the Act is to certify that the aircraft emission standards meet the requirements and to regulate the control of gas emission. In the event an aircraft does not comply with the set-out standards, the body has the mandate to suspend the certification or even revoke it. The clean air act plays a vital role in ensuring that aircraft meet the set-out requirements for emission. The freight aircraft engines and the passengers are also supposed to comply with federal regulations that relate to air pollution control from aircraft engines. As much as the aircraft engines are developed by manufacturers in different years, they have to comply with specific standards for CO2, oxides of nitrogen such as Tier 4, Tier 6 and 8. It helps identify or specify the requirements of emissions standards between the old, existing and the latest aircraft.
Methods to Reduce Emissions
Another way of pursuing green aviation is to minimize the taxiing time right from the gate since more aircraft would be joining the taxiway for their departure. It will result in increased stationary holding time which often burns a lot of fuel and subsequently produces a lot of emissions. The use of biofuel can also be considered rather than jet fuels because it would minimize the amount of fuel combustion from the engines of aircraft. It can also be beneficial for operations in the airport because it reduces operations costs besides reducing emissions to the environment. The issue of biofuels has been largely considered as efforts to reduce carbon footprints takes center stage. For instance, the Congress passed energy legislation to introduce Renewable Fuel Standards. The standards require production and blending of various classes of biofuels, ultimately requiring thirty-six billion gallons of biofuels per year to be blended with petroleum fuel by 2022. In future, there may be other enhancement efforts to power up airplanes such as electrical-powered or even battery-powered to minimize the emissions associated with combustion of gasoline. There are also other various options that can be considered to enhance energy efficiency to manage and reduce emissions in the environment. For instance, renewable energy can be alternative energy that may be used to power electric vehicles which help to minimize emissions, originating from power plants.
In most cases, airports strive to initiate certain expansion efforts. However, it is vital to also scan the environmental aspects of such initiates. For instance, LaGuardia Airport has put various initiatives to improve their environmental position in their community and the revenue generating advancements. Various airports in the United States are faced with the challenge of congestion hence many of these airports tend to initiate expansion plans to minimize congestion. These expansion plans of the facilities normally call for the need to strike a balance between the environment and the need to expand the airport facilities. Although there is a need to expand LaGuardia Airport, the process of expansion consists of both advantages as well as disadvantages. Most of the disadvantages relate to environmental concerns hence the need to strike a balance between the environment and the need to expand of the airport.
Airport Facilities Operations
Airport terminals are normally supported by various facilities in daily operations. They include escalators, transport apron lights, conveyor belts for luggage, escalators, lighting for buildings, machines for check-in, airfield lightings on the taxiways, air-conditioning for cooling, passenger lifts, shops outlets, restaurants in the terminals and screening of luggage among others. Such facilities need to be powered by either electricity or fuel. Several airports are running 24/7 because of increased flight schedules as well as passengers. It implies that supporting daily airport operations constitute high energy consumption. Orlando International Airport is an example of a big airport. It is the second largest with more than 35 million passengers every year. Considering the number of passengers, it requires about 50 escalators, 60 elevators, eight trains, 20 moving sidewalks and more than 50 thousand lights for it to operate effectively according to sustainability management plan. It is one of the largest and also the busiest airports, consuming a lot of electricity.
Energy Impacts to the Environment
It is normally crucial to address the efficiency and energy conservation issues considering the point that consumption of energy is a major source of environmental degradation. It is vital to adopt cost-effective and sustainable practices of energy consumption to minimize environmental damages since the Earth does not have an indefinite energy supply. Therefore, consumption of energy in the airport needs to be analyzed and monitored on an annual basis to come up with ways to minimize the energy that is being used to support the airport facilities. Failure to monitor the total energy consumption may contribute to various environmental issues such as increased amount of toxic fumes that are being emitted by power plants and also waste natural resources. It is vital to come up with various efforts of natural resource preservation to save and benefit the environment.
Source of Energy in the Airport
Fossil fuels are normally more costly as compared to other energy sources that are exploited to generate electricity. There are various alternatives that may be employed in converting electrical energy into renewable energy in the airport rather than relying on power plants for burning fossil fuels. Such alternatives may minimize the gas emissions to the environment and also improve the quality of air for the public. Some of these alternatives that can be considered include wind energy and solar energy.
Solar Energy
This is a renewable energy source which is inexhaustible, sustainable and can be considered to produce electricity (Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy Sources, 2005). It is normally considered as a source of clean energy considering the point that it does not emit pollutant gases in the atmosphere in the process electricity generation. For instance, a solar-powered photovoltaic panel converts sun rays into electricity by using photons of light from the sun to excite electrons in the silicon cells (Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy Sources, 2005). The solar panel may be installed on the roof or even mounted right on the ground to produce electricity using direct sunlight which is a natural resource. The alternative would minimize the cost of power and also require less maintenance as compared to the burning of fossil fuels. As much as the initial cost may be relatively expensive, the panels can significantly reduce the operational costs incurred by airports. It will also help bring about greener aviation environment in the long term. Considering solar energy minimizes the need for fossil fuels and power plants generate electricity which pollutes the air in the process. It would minimize the emissions that are attributed to fossil fuel in the atmosphere.
Various stakeholders have developed interests in solar energy in the aviation industry with the aim of reducing airport operating cost and also showing the commitment to have a sustainable airport development. “Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport” is an example of an airport that has embraced this renewable energy. The airport invested about $25 million in the solar project and has built solar panels on top of parking ramps at the airport’s main terminal. The panels produce three megawatts and cover only approximately 20% of the electricity being consumed by the airport. In the event the initial cost is settled, the airport continues enjoying free electricity with little maintenance cost and no cost of raw materials. Brisbane Airport is another example that has successfully implemented this alternative. It saved about 1.79 GWh of energy which is equivalent to over 500 households’ energy supplies.
Wind Power Energy
The energy generated from wind is normally created through atmospheric changes like changes in pressure and temperatures. Such changes make the air moves on the earth’s surface. The moving air normally has energy which can be exploited to produce electric power. The energy from the wind is produced by the use of wind turbines. Every turbine consists of propeller blades known as the rotor. The wind that blows across these turbine blades create high pressure on one side of the blades which cause them to start rotating. The rotation turns the spinning parts of the turbines that drive generators to produce electric power. During the process, only the kinetic energy is being converted into electric energy hence no gases are emitted in the process.
The energy from wind also is very cost-effective compared to other energy sources. It is also reliable and pollution free. It does not call for the burning of fossil fuels or other burning forms to produce electricity. As much as this source energy is reliable, cost-effective and pollution free, it has one big challenge. It requires a location is not close to the city center and must have a constant speed of 5m/s. However, the wind turbine may be installed on tall buildings away from the ground, where there isn’t obstruction of wind.
Based on the turbine’s sizes and also the rotor’s speed, an average capacity of 3MW of electricity may be produced. Netherland’s airports are good examples of airports that have adopted wind energy which is generated from farms. The energy is used to transport about 600,000 passengers on a daily basis. The move also helps in cutting the carbon emission equivalent to the power consumption of the whole Amsterdam population which is estimated to be 1.2 billion kWh per year (Rooij, 2017). It is anticipated that by 2019, all Dutch airports will be fully powered by the wind farms with about 200 Gigawatt of clean power to enhance green aviation (Kaye, 2017). In other words, switching to renewable energy will promote green aviation, reduce emissions to the environment and significantly improve the sustainability of airport operations.
Recommendations
It is often logical that one cannot use same existing ways to achieve different results. Therefore, in order to enhance green aviation, various aviation stakeholders need to explore various alternatives that can help reduce the emission of harmful substances and promote green aviation. Some of the technologies that can be considered for this purpose include wind turbine power and solar panels which are sources of renewable energy which may be useful in operating airport facilities. The following are some recommendations minimizing the use of electricity in the airport terminals.
First, all lightings within the airport premises should be replaced with Light Emitting Diode lightings. Such technology helps enhance shelf life and also brilliancy of lightings while consuming relatively small energy.
Secondly, I would recommend the installation of more solar panels within the airport to produce electricity that can be used for powering terminal facilities like luggage conveyor belts and travellators, escalators, LCD panels, air conditioning and luggage scanners among others. Apart from solar energy, I would also recommend auto sensors be installed on luggage conveyor belts, travellators, and escalators. It would lower the usage of power during off-peak or when systems are idling. It is vital to install air-conditioning machines with greater energy saving capability and efficiency to minimize the operating costs as well as electricity usage. Every component needs to be given a role that it plays towards having greener aviation.
Considering the problem of noise around the airport, I would recommend the redesigning of aircraft to have advanced structures to help lighten the weight and increase the efficiency of the aircraft. The redesigning would help minimize the drug and improve the lift to enhance the flow of air over the surfaces of the aircraft. The lighter weight contributes to less fuel consumption which also reduces the amount of fuel burning. Consequently, the lighter weight will help reduce the impact of noise during landing, approach and also take-off. I would also recommend upgrading of airplane wings to truss-braced wings. Such wings are thinner and consist of longer wingspan which may help enhance the aircraft performance and reduce fuel consumption (Gipson, 2017).
I would also recommend sourcing for alternative fuels which are compatible with several kinds of the plane. The use of clean energy has the potential of improving the cost-efficiency and promoting a greener environment. The use of fuels has “been found” to be unsustainable in the long run considering fuel prices which increase constantly. It isn’t the same case with solar energy and wind energy considering that point that there isn’t operating costs.
The combination of oxygen and hydrogen is one possible alternative fuel which enhances the effort of attaining green aviation. The ground vehicles which normally rely on fuel can be replaced by electric cars to reduce carbon emission. The main objective of developing zero-emission vehicles is to provide clean air benefits. Most companies are committed to achieving this objective by producing various designs of electric vehicles. They will lead to reduced carbon emission in the atmosphere since the vehicles rely on electricity and not petroleum products. The petroleum products will be replaced by electricity as an alternative energy source. The normal cars “emit a lot of carbon into our natural atmosphere, leaving it vulnerable to things like pollution, greenhouse gases, global warming and climate change” (MacDougall, 2015). To contribute positively to the environment that we live in, electric cars serve as a great to move forward towards the reduction of carbon emissions. They are one hundred percent eco-friendly since they run on engines that electrically powered. They don’t emit smoke or even toxic gases in the environment because they run on a clean source of energy. Therefore, replacing the normal cars with electric cars may be a great milestone that can help in curbing global climate change.
Based on the aircraft design, I would recommend Boeing and NASA to consider relying on “solar technology as an alternative power source” for aircraft operations. Another recommendation is to come up with an aircraft design type, having hybrid wing where engines will be mounted above the blended wing. It would significantly increase the engine’s performance with a reduction in drug, and an increase in lift. Having such advanced technology may pave the way for green aviation which is characterized by less environmental pollution. For instance, in order to improve their environmental position in their community and the revenue generating advancements, Chicago Ohare is undertaking new developments, and advancements in community-friendly airport facilities guarantee even bigger rewards for the community. Several improvements are underway aimed at improving the current state of the airport. The aircraft makers are developing and producing small airplanes that have fuel-efficient engines and airline-style flight displays to minimize the level of air and noise pollution. A “fly-quiet” plan has been confirmed to take care of the early morning and late night jet noise across the area. It is also done to respond to several complaints normally received from the community. Such efforts would promote green aviation significantly apart from reducing operating costs.
Efforts to minimize environmental pollution that is attributed to aviation also require international cooperation. Therefore, governments need to adopt active roles in the global debate on the issue and should encourage the development of innovative solutions. Various nations and organizations need to be involved to come up with other sustainable initiatives.
Airport operations are often a critical aspect that facilitates tourism, businesses, imports and exports among others. However, there is the need to weigh these benefits versus the impacts that air travel may have. The aviation industry is a major source of pollution as far as carbon dioxide emissions are concerned. It presents a great threat to governments and the entire globe because of its emissions. The problem needs to be addressed by initiating various efforts to pursue green aviation. Pollution impacts such as climate change may have far-reaching consequences in the lives of many people. It may lead to food shortages, famine, poor economic growth and poor living standards among others. While other sectors are also trying to minimize emissions, aviation industry also “needs to be responsible” for having a greener environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the growth of the aviation sector is anticipated to increase leading to further deterioration of the global climate. It also raises the concerns about aircraft noise impacts and gases produced from engine combustion which greatly affect the quality of air and public health of the residents.” The four-balanced approach” aims to identify noise problems at airports, analyze and provide preventive measures, reduce noise exposure and regulate noise problems in addition to addressing other noise related issues. Noise certification assists to certify that the aircraft engines are operating within the specified noise limits and that the FAA noise standard requirements are met. Noise certification also helps to address safety and health concerns for the public and communities residing or working near the airport.
Boeing engineers on the new Boeing 787 aircraft have developed new technology to counter the increased pollution from the aircraft. The sudden change of weather because of deterioration of the global climate affects flight visibility, causing delays and cancellations of flights. The aviation industry has identified three items it intends to work on by the year 2050. These are to reduce pollutant emissions by half, decrease the noise levels decibels for the environment and improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 percent per year. Working towards having greener aviation, NASA is developing an electrical hybrid aircraft whose electrical power is supplied by lithium-ion batteries. It could significantly be the most advanced aircraft technology ever to fly.
On the other hand, renewable energy is an alternative power source which may be considered to produce electricity to power up facilities in airport terminals. Examples of renewable sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and hydropower energy. It would benefit the environment and reduce the airport operating costs as well as promote the use of clean energy. The use of renewable energy would result in less global warming, improved public health and provide a constant supply of replenishable energy. The benefits of solar energy include low maintenance costs, environmentally friendly, non-pollution and sustainable. Also, the use of solar energy reduces all costs associated with electricity. However, it requires space for installation directly under sunlight, and the initial installation is relatively more expensive. Also, to power up the terminal facilities, there is a need for more solar panels. Furthermore, solar energy is effectively gathered when its sunny meaning its use is weather dependent. While wind power energy is a source of clean and renewable energy that only requires wind, more efficient and low cost. It doesn’t produce harmful gases that pollute the environment and has no fuel costs. Nonetheless, the wind reliability can be inconsistent, and the installation of the wind turbine can be costly. Furthermore, it requires regular maintenance and not all locations are suitable for installing wind turbines. Wind power stations have also been found to be very noisy and cause poor visibility for people living around. Hence, to move aviation into a greener future is not one man’s effort. It is important that everyone puts in a little effort in their own way. Nevertheless, promoting green initiatives and programs is indeed a great leap forward.

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