UK Plans to Propose Reduction in Airspace Emissions

A British publication, Air Transport, reports UK airspace authority National Air Traffic Services (NATS) plans to propose to its board of directors target levels for 2020 emissions and fuel burn reductions for aircraft flying under its control.

Christian Dumas, representing Airbus and the European Air Traffic Alliance, said a feasibility study done under the Single European Sky program has revealed that modernized air traffic management efforts could reduce aircraft carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 9%, mostly through optimized horizontal and vertical routing.

Air Transport said that carbon reductions programs will also focus on the footprint of the 5,500 NATS employees and facilities.

Meantime, UK transport minister Ruth Kelly reportedly said that her department is looking at whether new airport slots could be allocated to imitate the environmental performance of aircraft.

The Sustainable Transport System outlines the Department for Transport's (DfT) response to last year's mega-reports on CO2 emissions (the Stern and Eddington reports). The DfT report details its policy up to 2014 and outlines its longer term transport plan, reports Air Transport.

It will be followed with publication of a Green Paper and formal meeting in spring 2008.