The sum of all parts
Posted by JLow on Jun 23, 2010
One of the visits on our recent IVLP trips was to find out and learn about what the top brains are researching into, with regards to aviation and the impact on the climate- MIT.
One of the presenters was Dr. Philippe Bonnefoy, who gave us both the scientific research findings as well as the business implications, or justifications of why the aviation industry has been doing all these decades.
I just wanted to show you some of the grabbing facts and figures that are quite daunting.
Historical and future trends
The sum of all aviation parts
I would like to draw your attention to the second slide above.
After being blown away at first glance of that formula, but taking the time to examine each part of the formula it started to make sense to us- it was a summation of all parts of the aviation industry.
If you cannot see it properly, what is written in blue, from left to right, are:
“Demand (passenger traffic)”;
“1/average load factor”;
“1/aircraft size (fleet mix)”;
“Empty mass”;
“Payload mass”;
“Flight range and speed”;
“Propulsion (spec. fuel consumption)”;
“Aerodynamics (drag/lift)”;
“Fuel properties (alternative fuels)”.
We were amazed and glad that such research measures and efforts are being undertaken by this most-developed country; in looking for ways of mitigating the impact of all of aviation’s activities.
* Note the reference to ICAT; which are MIT International Center for Air Transportation:
Volcanoes, ash, and grounded planes.
Posted by JLow on Apr 20, 2010
This has been all over the news; how passengers are stranded unable to travel or return home, how airlines are badly affected by cancelled flights, and refunds, or redirecting passengers to alternate destinations.
What about the effect on the environment?
Late last week I saw a comment left by a reader on a news article about the volcano, citing that grounding planes would therefore have an indirect benefit to the environment because of there would be no carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Immediately I thought “What about the plumes?”
I did some research which I am sharing below. The source is wikipedia.
With the massive reduction of air travel occurring over European skies, an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than the annual emissions of many developing countries, has been saved from entering the atmosphere as a result of the cancelled flights across Europe; however, no calculations have yet taken into account the massive amount of carbon dioxide released by the volcanic ash cloud itself. [119]
Residents of West London under the Heathrow Airport flight path have described the peace as ‘bliss’. John Stewart of the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise said they had been inundated with emails and phone calls and said “The message is that this is what life should be like. The peace and quiet is absolutely wonderful.” Christine Shilling, of the No Third Runway Action Group, who lives in nearby Harmondsworth, said: “I’ve lived here more than 40 years and I’ve never known such peace.”[120] Jenny Tonge, president of HACAN Clearskies, life peer and former Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park in London said “Dare we hope that it will finally lay the Third Runway at Heathrow to rest and concentrate government minds on more environmentally friendly and sustainable forms of transport?”[121][122]
No doubt there has been a reduction or temporary cessation of emissions (until flights are allowed into that airspace again), but the plumes from the eruption may actually be quite damaging as well, in more ways than one.
When ash begins to fall during daylight hours, the sky turns hazy and a pale yellow color. The ashfall may become so dense that daylight turns the sky gray to pitch black, with the ash severely restricting visibility and deadening sound. A darkened ash sky lowers temperatures during daylight hours from what would otherwise be expected. Loud thunder and lightning as well as the strong smell of sulfur accompany an ashfall.[11] If rain accompanies an ashfall, the tiny particles turn into a slurry of slippery mud. Rain and lightning combined with ash can lead to power outages, breakdowns of communication, and disorientation.[12]
Very fine ash particles can remain high in the atmosphere for many years, spread around the world by high-altitude winds. This suspended material contributes to spectacular sunsets, as well as an optical phenomenon known as “Bishop’s Ring“, which refers to a corona or halo effect around the sun.[13] High levels of ash high in the atmosphere causes climate change by cooling the globe for a few years following major eruptions. The last episode of ash-induced global cooling followed the Mount Pinatubo eruption of 1991.[14] The most documented case in recorded history of this phenomenon followed the epic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, which led to the year without summer in 1816.[15]
 Hong Kong sunset c. 1992 after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo |
 Rainbow and volcanic ash with sulfur dioxide emissions from Halema`uma`u vent |
 Volcanic ash dunes near Tarvurvur Crater, Rabaul caldera |
 River eroding volcanic ash flow Alaska Southwest, Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes |
Undoubtedly, the airline industry does have a part in overall emissions. But by last official statistics, airlines only contribute 2-3% of the overall emissions, when we take into consideration industries like power generation (coal plants), transport industry such as trucking, etc.
You may also be interested in reading “Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption”
John Low
MAS Environment Dept
Celebrities using their stardom for awareness
Posted by JLow on Dec 4, 2009
I am sure you have already seen these promotional videos. I would just like to put them here, for the record.
Are your local celebrities throwing their weight behind this global issue too?
ETS taken very seriously by governments
Posted by JLow on Dec 1, 2009
I have been following closely the developments with the Australian government’s tussle over its handling of its ETS legislation.
The debate over this legislation has been taken so seriously that the opposition party, the Liberal Party, has even had a change in leadership- just today a new leader has already been appointed.
China and India have also announced that they will be attending this month’s Copenhagen talks. Hopefully there will be an agreement in the outcome of this much anticipated event.
In choosing my words carefully, it is “good” to see this issue being taken so seriously by a government. I will continue watching keenly the developments on this front.
For continuous updates on the Australian government’s development on the ETS, one of the sources I follow is Sky News’ twitter updates.
John Low
MAS Environment department
FREE: Book on sustainable energy
Posted by JLow on Oct 16, 2009
I have found a great FREE resource to share, albeit written for the English / UK audience, on Sustainable Energy.
The following few commentary says it all 
“For anyone with influence on energy policy, whether in government, business or a campaign group, this book should be compulsory reading” – Tony Juniper, Former Executive Director, Friends of the Earth
“At last a book that comprehensively reveals the true facts about sustainable energy in a form that is both highly readable and entertaining.” – Robert Sansom, EDF Energy
“The Freakonomics of conservation, climate and energy.” – Cory Doctorow, boingboing.net
This free downloadable book is written by a Cambridge physicist, Professor David J.C. MacKay. He dedicates this book “to those who will not have the benefit of two billion years’ accumulated energy reserves”.
John Low
Malaysia Airlines
News: “ETS may force power stations to close”
Posted by JLow on Oct 16, 2009
As found on Sky News’ website.
It’s interesting to see how government’s commitment to emission reduction is now tricking down to the implementation considerations, and the effects society and everyday laypeople.
John Low
Malaysia Airlines
Updated: 02:39, Friday October 16, 2009
Victoria could face power outages if two of its four brown coal power stations close in the next 10 years as Australia looks to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, experts say.
Under one of a number of scenarios prepared by consultants for the Victorian government, and obtained by The Age, the Hazelwood and Yallourn power stations could close.
Hazelwood, criticised by environmentalists as Australia’s dirtiest power station, could shut by 2013 if Australia cut its greenhouse emissions by 5 per cent by 2020.
Nearby Yallourn could close in 2018, or both stations could close in 2015, the documents suggest.
The stations, which opened in the 1960s, together provide 40 per cent of Victoria’s electricity and half the state’s greenhouse emissions from power generation.
The papers go against federal Treasury studies and work by former climate change adviser Ross Garnaut, but were dismissed as ‘scaremongering’ by energy analysts, The Age said.
Other scenarios include sharp electricity price rises to keep the ageing plants in service, while another suggests the plants could break down or be forced to shut because of poor maintenance.
In response, Premier John Brumby said the government aimed to achieve ‘continuing energy security’ along with lower emissions and more investment in clean coal and other technology.
Environment Victoria campaign director Mark Wakeham welcomed any plans to abandon Hazelwood.
A spokesman for TRUenergy, which operates the Yallourn plant, said proposed compensation under the emissions trading scheme was insufficient and would affect supply reliability in the future.
A spokesman for International Power, owners of Hazelwood, declined to comment.
Efficiency has always been a factor
Posted by JLow on Oct 14, 2009
One of the idiosyncrasies of the aviation sector is efficiency.
Optimisation is the key factor in planning for an airline’s network: where to fly to, which planes to use, how often, and even what time of day to leave and/or arrive. And then there’s the aspect of “distressed inventory”- seats “expire” when the flight takes off. If a seat on that flight is not sold, it is a loss to the company because it can never be sold ever again. So, marketing efforts ultimately are to fill up the seats before the date and time of the scheduled departure.
With fuel being the one biggest cost in an airline’s operations, airlines are also looking into ways to reduce fuel use. Minimising the turnaround time (quickly get the plane flying again after landing), finding the best flight path to the destination, finding the best approach when landing (gradual descend while approaching instead of “braking” to slow down approach). Airplane manufacturers have also been making advances in both airplane technologies and engines to reduce fuel burn during flights.
Having an understanding of these characteristics of the aviation industry, it is a real challenge to balance the need to be environmentally conscious and responsible, whilst trying to “survive” as an airline in these difficult economic times and increased competition.
This article reproduced below updates the recently decided direction for the aviation sector in terms of carbon emission limits for the coming years.
