Sustainable Travel

By David Browne

Virgin Atlantic has started testing a procedure to reduce the time that airliners run their engines on the ground and so reduce the amount of pollution they cause. The airline’s Boeing 747 jets departing from London Heathrow and Gatwick this month are being towed to a “starting grid” close to the runway before their engines are fired up.

A "starting grid" is a holding area, close to a runway, consisting of several parking bays for aircraft. It means that aircraft can be towed closer to a runway before take-off, substantially reducing the time that engines need to be running. An aircraft would only need to start its engines once on the grid, around 10 minutes before actual take-off.

The experiment is being conducted in cooperation with airport operator British Airports Authority and the air traffic control authority in a climate of increased awareness of the environmental damage being done by carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft. The test runs this month are to be followed up with longer and more detailed trials in the first quarter of 2007.

Environment campaigners have dismissed the action as a token gesture and are calling for less commercial flying and an end to airport expansion as a more urgent need to combat climate change.

Virgin Atlantic claims that reducing the time that aircraft engines are running on the ground will make a small contribution to cutting pollution.

“Towing aircraft from a stand substantially reduces the amount of time they need to taxi with their engines running and reduces the time spent queuing before take-off. Starting grids will also reduce congestion around stands, meaning aircraft that have recently landed will not have to wait, with their engines running, to get onto the stand," said in Atlantic general counsel Jill Brady.

"Once we have examined the results of the test trials, we will be able to look at creating centers of excellence at the busiest airports around the world, airports which share Virgin Atlantic’s goal of reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions both on the ground and in the air."

Towing aircraft closer to the runway has substantial implications also for people who live close to the airports. They stand to benefit from much lower noise levels because of aircraft taxiing without their engines running, and from much cleaner air on the ground.

Airport operators are monitoring the experiment carefully. “I am very proud for Gatwick Airport to be at the forefront of this innovative and exciting trial with Virgin Atlantic,” said Paul Griffiths, Managing Director, BAA Gatwick. “We welcome this opportunity to work with the airline to understand the benefits this could deliver for the aviation industry, the environment and for our local communities.

"As a company, BAA is committed to working with aviation partners to reduce CO2 emissions, including our support for the inclusion of the aviation industry within the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme.”

As part of its sustainable aviation strategy, Virgin Atlantic will also be unveiling a scheme in the first half of 2007 where passengers can offset their flights, and help to take greater responsibility for their carbon emissions. The offsetting facility will be part of a series of initiatives by the airline, including working with other stakeholders within the aviation industry, to tackle global warming.

The moves by Virgin Atlantic follow Sir Richard Branson's commitment for Virgin Group to invest US$3billion over the next ten years in renewable energy initiatives.

Source: eTurboNews.com