Download
1 / 15
150 likes | 281 Views
Reducing Emissions through Operational Efficiency. Capt. Russell Davie Cathay Pacific Airways. Current Practices Include. Monitoring fuel used on a sector by sector basis. Monitoring individual aircraft performance.
E N D
Reducing Emissions through Operational Efficiency Capt. Russell Davie Cathay Pacific Airways
Current Practices Include ... • Monitoring fuel used on a sector by sector basis. • Monitoring individual aircraft performance. • Minimize additional fuel uplift by crews, through a robust and transparent fuel policy. • Ensuring aircraft and engines and airframes are maintained to the highest possible standard.
Why the focus on Operational Efficiency? • Fuel is a significant part of the airlines budget, nominally around 35% • Fuel savings directly affect the profit margin in a marginal profit industry. • Importantly in today’s environmentally aware world, the Environmental Impact of flight operations is reduced.
Environmental impact • Environmental impact of flight operations, particularly CO2 emissions, is directly proportional to the fuel used. • Any fuel saved, directly reduces the impact of flight operations on the environment. • Primarily cost saving measure, as fuel represents a very significant proportion of any airline budget .
ATC Restrictions • Many ATC Route structures still based on 1960s technologies • Limited and restricted by political boundaries • Military ownership of significant airspace, which is often little used.
Great Circle Distance between LAX & HKG - 6300nm 2700nm Preferred route - 20 May 07 Preferred route - 03 Nov 07 Distance (nm) Distance (nm) 6897 7069 Flight time Flight time 14:13 14:50
Fuel Tankering • Airlines tanker fuel due high differentials in fuel price across their networks. There is a significant cost involved in adoption of a “No Tankering” policy, equating to millions of US$/year for a major carrier. • The cost of tankering in environmental grounds is between 3.2 - 4.5% for every hour of flight.
Reasons Behind Fuel Price Differentials • Cartel. Market share is divided between suppliers and therefore price controlled. • Import pricing parity. Government will charge you a premium to make the cost of your import the same as the locally supplied product. • Government controlled monopolies.
THE FUTURE • New Generation Aircraft and Engines will provide an improvement over the next few years. • Advanced ATC systems should permit more efficient routes and more optimal flight levels to be flown by a higher percentage of aircraft than today.
Alternate Fuels • Fuel specification has to be compatible with current engines. • Must be widely available, or, able to admix with current fuel specifications. • More environmentally friendly. • Cost should be at least equal to current fuel. • Availability in the near future unlikely.
Barriers to progress • Investment in new aircraft is extremely capital intensive, not all airlines can afford to invest in a fleet renewal program. • New engine technology reduces total fuel used per passenger Km, and therefore CO2, however it has little impact on NOx during the Landing/Take-Off cycle. • Inefficient ATC systems and procedures, particularly across international borders, is currently the single largest cause of fuel wastage in aviation.
Conclusions • Urgent work required to improve air traffic procedures and route efficiency. This is the area where largest gains can be achieved in a relatively short timeframe. • Reduce or eliminate reasons for tankering fuel. Reduction or even elimination of local price differentials will create a step improvement in the total fuel used by the industry. • These issues must be largely Government led initiatives.
Conclusions • Airlines investment in new equipment will reduce emissions per passenger Km, but is not the complete solution. • Alternative fuels, while not available in the near future, they are beginning to develop in a promising manner. • Airlines already operate as efficiently as they are able, as this has a direct bearing on costs.
