Federal Aviation Administration Aviation and the Environment – Navigating the Future Presented to:Climate Working Group Meeting By: Mr. Carl Burleson,

Federal AviationAdministrationAviation and the

Environment – Navigating the Future

Presented to: Climate Working Group Meeting

By: Mr. Carl Burleson,Director,FAA Office of Environment & Energy

Date: March 29, 2006

2 2Federal AviationAdministration

Aviation and the Environment- Navigating the Future March 29, 2006

• Background• Legislative Drivers

• The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS) Plan• Aviation and the Environment: A National Vision

• Issues on Aviation & Climate• Scientific Uncertainties• Relative Growth• Policy Trade-offs• International Dimension

• Areas for Research Work• Closing Observations

Outline



Organizational ContextFAA

Administrator

Assistant Administrator for Aviation Policy,

Planning & Environment

Office of Environment

& Energy (AEE)

14

Aeronautics andSpace



• Establishes National Goals• Creates multi-agency

cooperation (FAA, DOC, NASA, DOD, DHS)

• Sets 8 Transformational Strategies

• Develop Environmental Protection that Allows Sustained Aviation Growth

Download .pdf version of the plan at www.jpdo.aero

US Vision for the Aviation System of 2025



• Engaged 59 stakeholders from 38 organizations

• Examined Previous Studies/Reports

• Resulted in a Vision Statement for Aviation and the Environment

• Provides Roadmap for Environmental Strategy in Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS) Plan

• Provides framework for PARTNER Center of Excellence strategic plan and guiding investment

U.S. Roadmap on Aviation’s Environmental Challenges

http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/partner/index.html



Community Noise ImpactsDealing with significant aircraft noise impacts around airports

Global climate

The potential impact of aviation on global climate

Limiting or reducing impact of aviation on local air quality

Air Quality

Water QualityReducing significant impacts on local water quality

Multiple Environmental Challenges



To Provide Environmental Protection that Allows Sustained Aviation Growth.

• By 2025, significant environmental impacts will be reduced in absolute terms, even with the anticipated growth in aviation.

• Uncertainties about aviation emissions are reduced to enable appropriate actions to address these effects.

• Communities will value airports as gateways to the national and international transportation network.

• U.S. aerospace will provide leadership in researching, developing, and implementing technological, operational and policy initiatives that address mobility and environmental needs.



Aircraft Emissions in the Atmosphere

Sun

Figure adapted from 1999 Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project NASA /FAA /EPA Partnership poster

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Aircraft Emissions in the Environment



Significant progress has been made in key areas since the IPCC report. The work done has answered many important questions and has helped to focus attention on the remaining open issues:

• particle emission characterization,• contrail models,• cloud models, and• General Circulation Models and climate models

Remaining Issues

“Further work is required to reduce scientific and other uncertainties, to understand better the options for reducing emissions, to better inform decision-makers, and to improve the understanding of the social and economic issues associated with the demand for air transport.”

Aviation and the Global Atmosphere, IPCC 1999

The Many Unknowns



Radiative Forcing from Aircraft

2003 revision (>6%)with cirrus impact

Cumulative fleet CO2 emissions over last ~50 years

Short-lived clouds from emissions lasting ~1 day

1999 estimate (3.5%), cirrus impact uncertain

Future : CO2 RF lasts ~300 years, cloud RF lasts ~1 day

Figure adapted from IPCC (1999) with additional data from Schumann (2003)

W/m

2Radiative Forcing From Aircraft



Aviation GHG Emissions- Relatively Modest

Residential

Electric Utilities Industry

Commercial Agriculture

Transport Each square represents 1% of total emissions inventory

Aviation

Non- Transport Transport

Non-Road Vehicles On-Road Vehicles



Aviation GHG Emissions – Higher Relative Growth Ahead?



Increased Engine Pressure Ratio & Temperatures

- Reduced Fuel Burn / CO2 - Reduced HC and CO- Increased NOx

Increased engine bypass ratio - Reduced Fuel Burn / CO2 - Reduced Noise - Increased NOx

Improved aerodynamic efficiency and reduced weight

- Reduced CO2

- Reduced Noise - Reduced NOx

Fuel Burn/CO2

Noi

se

Other Emissions

Continuous Descent Approach

- Reduced Noise - Reduced Fuel Burn/CO2

Nacelle Modifications- Reduced Noise - Increased Fuel Burn/CO2

No Simple Solutions- Trade-offs in Reducing Impacts



Aviation & Climate Issues- Key International Debate

Figure from FAA System for Assessing Aviation's Global Emissions (SAGE) http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/aep/models/sage/

Aviation & Climate Issues- Key International Debate



An Alternative View on Aviation…

“Of all the things which an ordinary person does which damage the planet, flying is far the worst.” page 7

“Flying kills. We all know it, and we all do it. And we won't stop doing it until the government reverses its policy and starts closing the runways.”

Guardian, February 28, 2006



Recent Assessment

http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/partner/reports/climate_rpt.pdf



• Improve models of long term contrail evolution (coagulation, sedimentation, interaction with atmospheric shear & turbulence)

• Understand transformation of contrails to cirrus clouds

• Assess satellite data to characterize contrails

• Improve understanding of what controls supersaturation & cirrus formation

• Enhance inventory of particulate matter & sulfate aerosols

• Acquire real world measurements from field studies

• Assess aviation signature within climate models

Key Areas of Research

To be refined at Aviation Climate Workshop June 7-9



• Next Generation Air Transportation System Plan Underway

• Aviation and climate impacts – key environmental uncertainty

• Aviation and climate impacts- the focus of international debate

• Need NOAA Support at Aviation Climate Workshop to help define a way forward

Closing Observations

Documents

Federal Aviation Administration Aviation and the Environment – Navigating the Future Presented to:Climate Working Group Meeting By: Mr. Carl Burleson,