aircraft emissions

How are aircraft saving jet fuel with gradual descents?

A white Mesa regional jet with a blue tail flying through blue sky and clouds as it comes in for a landing. The FAA's new rules allow planes to descend more efficiently.

The Federal Aviation Administration last year established optimized profile descents at 42 airports last year with the goal of saving millions of gallons of fuel and reducing CO2 and other emissions. Another benefit is less noise.

Let’s cut through the technical language. Optimized Profile Descents (OPD) are new flight techniques that allow airplanes to descend from cruising altitude to the runway in a smooth, continuous slope with engines set at near idle. In other words, pilots flying into...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-are-aircraft-saving-jet-fuel-with-gradual-descents

EPA proposes first-ever air emissions standards for commercial aircraft

For the first time, the United States is proposing regulations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from commercial aircraft, U.S. Environment Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler announced today.

The regulations were developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after consulting with EPA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. aviation industry, Wheeler said, noting that his agency is proposing to use a fuel efficiency-based metric established by ICAO that serves as...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/epa-proposes-first-ever-air-emissions-standards-for-commercial-aircraft

US airlines aim to keep it clean during COVID-19

The U.S. airline industry, although mostly grounded by coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions, continues to press forward with investments to develop biofuels to reduce aircraft emissions.

“We remain committed to achieving our aggressive climate and sustainability goals,” said Nancy Young, vice president of environmental affairs for Airlines for America (A4A), in a statement on Wednesday. “The increased production and use of sustainable fuels is a key pillar of our efforts.”

The Washington,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-airlines-aim-to-keep-it-clean-during-covid-19