Image: Nasa KSD-02pd0130 Kennedy Space Center, Sir David Attenborough (center) works with a film crew on Launch Pad 39A. Space Shuttle Columbia, atop the Mobile Launcher Platform.
Sir David Attenborough once said: We often talk of saving the planet, but the truth is that we must do these things to save ourselves. With or without us, the wild will return.
This statement perfectly sums up today's discussions about sustainability. So, are we transitioning from a polluted past to a future of sustainable surface operations at our airports?
Imagine an airplane ready to leave the gate, to be pushed back to a safe spot where the powerful jet engines can be started and then the power increase to breakaway and begin to taxi. We have all been in this phase as passengers, paying attention to the flight attendant's safety pitch, the location of the emergency exits, the use of the mask, etc., but we may not have been aware of this process of our plane leaving the gate to start taxiing and heading for the runway. This phase of the pushback takes valuable time, from 3 to about 10 minutes. This is related to several factors, including the apron architecture, the location of the engine start spot, etc.
Airports are making progress towards sustainability, but ground operations remain a major source of pollution. Activities such as taxiing, APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) use, and pushback operations emit significant amounts of CO₂, NOx, and hydrocarbons, find a case study of Madrid Barajas airport Ref 1.
Remember that jet engines at idle speed, which is common during taxiing and surface operations at airports, also emit pollutants, including unburned hydrocarbons. This is due to incomplete combustion at low engine power settings, where the combustion temperature is insufficient to fully oxidize all the fuel. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are also higher under these conditions, as the lower temperatures and reduced airflow affect combustion efficiency.We know that several advances in materials, software and AI, jet engines and even fuel are on the way to boost sustainability, or at least to make airplanes be more environmentally friendlier during flight. But not many advances have been coming to the ground operations, so the following challenges are:
· Taxiing & Engine Idle Time: Aircraft engines burn fuel inefficiently during taxi, producing significant emissions.
Pushback Tractors & GSE: Conventional ground support equipment (GSE) and pushback tractors emit CO₂ and other pollutants.
APUs: The reliance on APUs for power while aircraft are parked increases emissions and impacts air quality for ground staff and nearby communities.
👷♀️ Impact on Staff and Communities: Pollution from these operations not only affects climate change but also poses health risks to airport staff working in close proximity to aircraft and also to surrounding communities, exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular issues, One of the leading efforts relies on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) that is designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. However, it is not entirely free of pollutants. While SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle, it still produces pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter, which can affect air quality near airports. Thankfully the following efforts have been on the scene to this issue:
Electrification has shown the potential to give a hand on this matter, Airports like Heathrow and Munich are already deploying fully electric towbarless pushback tractors and other LEVs (Low Emission Vehicles) to reduce emissions.
Collaboration: Partnerships between airports, airlines, and ground handlers can accelerate the adoption of cleaner technologies and practices.
Standards & Policies: Organizations like IATA and industry leaders are advocating for sustainable taxiing and pooling of GSE to minimize redundancies and promote green operations.
Infrastructure modernization: Airports need upgraded grids, charging stations, and hydrant refueling systems to support these technologies, also new ways to shorten pushback operations.
I'm going to share with you two smart ideas that have been put into action quickly to help with this challenge.
For instance, Delta airline had a brilliant trick that uses to turn planes around faster, just instead of line the airplanes 90 degrees to the gate, they switched to 45 degrees, that means 1-to-2-minute saving, that will sound small, but just multiply that to thousands of operations per day and the pollution during that time. Ref 2.
Another example of a solution, is available SKRG airport Colombia, where a new generation jet blast deflector not only reduce the pushback distance 50% and time required for the pushback and exit of the apron operation (4 min), also deflect the jet blast and combustion gases to an altitude above the staff and people boarding airplanes. In contrast to old designs of blast deflectors, this is a step forward.
SKRG airport with a Jet Blast Deflector that saves area, time to boost TAT efficiency.
What steps do you think airports and airlines should prioritize to achieve greener ground operations? Let’s discuss! 🚀
Find more at www.vortexdeflector.us
Ref 3. Whatch a video on https://youtu.be/5a7VeHvZZpw?si=APR5LJzTDb-TEJMQ&t=112
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