The business aviation community is striving incessantly to minimise the adverse impact on the environment. While manufacturers are focused on improvement in design to produce aircraft with lower fuel burn, higher range and lower emission and noise levels, operators are working with air traffic service providers to be able to operate business aviation aircraft even more efficiently.

One of the pressing environmental concerns for the world today is the problem of climate change. Today, a major challenge before all nations of the world and their governments is protection of the environment and sustainability of the planet. Like most transportation systems, aircraft too burn fossil fuels and in the process, generate greenhouse gas emissions that are in direct proportion to the quantum of fuel burned and impact the environment adversely. Understandably therefore all the stakeholders in the aviation community the world over are concerned and have been actively engaged in finding ways to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. And the business aviation community that cares for the environment is no different.

Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Following the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol targets focused primarily on CO₂ emissions. However, there are other greenhouse gases such as methane, water vapour and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) that contribute to climate change. According to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) set up by the United Nations in 1988, aviation accounts for a maximum of three per cent of the total man-made global emissions. Of the total quantum of emissions contributed by the aviation industry globally, the share of business aviation is just two per cent and of the overall global emissions, it is a mere 0.04 per cent. Notwithstanding the fact that business aircraft compared with airliners are generally less noisy, generate relatively small amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and that the contribution to global emission by business aviation overall is miniscule, the global business aviation community still is acutely conscious of its responsibilities and is actively promoting environment friendly practices for operators of business aircraft. Business aviation supports research and development as also other efforts to achieve progressive reduction of aircraft emissions without compromising on air safety and efficiency in operations.

A business jet owned and operated by a private company is no longer seen as mere status symbol but as a productivity tool in the hands of corporate management. A rapidly growing sector, excluding micro-lights, business and general aviation in Europe alone boasts of around 50,000 aircraft. About 10 per cent of aircraft movements in 2006 under Eurocontrol were attributed to this segment of the industry and the volume of traffic has only been growing steadily since then.

As business aircraft operate globally, there is an imperative need for uniform policies, regulations and procedures to ensure not only safe but efficient operations so that business jets complete their missions in the minimum flight time and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, the business aviation industry encourages a post-Kyoto Agreement whereby the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is assigned global responsibility of setting benchmarks and monitoring of emissions.

Business aviation benefits both directly and indirectly from the research and development efforts that are being widely conducted throughout aviation. As a result of these efforts, much has been done to reduce the adverse effect that business aviation has on the environment. Backed by an excellent record of sustained improvement in fuel efficiency of business aircraft through innovations in respect of both propulsion systems and airframes, a 40 per cent improvement was achieved in the past 40 years. In November 2009, a host of business aviation associations’ unveiled plans to build upon the industry’s continued record of advancements to limit the industry’s emissions footprint. The business aviation community aims to achieve carbon-neutral growth by 2020, improve fuel efficiency at an average rate of two per cent per year up to 2020 and reduction in total carbon emissions to 50 per cent by 2050, compared to the level prevailing in 2005. These optimistic targets are largely contingent on developments and advancements in areas such as technology, infrastructure and operating environment, alternative fuels and market-based measures.

Impact of Technology

Reduction of noise pollution has been a major challenge for designers and manufacturers of aircraft. The first time that the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for aircraft noise certification were published by ICAO was in 1971. Since then, SARPs have been periodically updated in tandem with advancements in technology. All business aircraft manufactured today conform to the noise standards stipulated by ICAO.

Business jets being produced today are much less noisy as compared with those manufactured four decades ago and are around seven dB quieter than most airliners. Introduction of new technology such as the high bypass ratio aero engines helped achieve significant reduction in noise levels and the new geared turbofan technology from Pratt & Whitney holds immense promise of further reduction in engine noise. Manufacturers of business jets constantly strive to provide customers with aircraft that can provide higher un-refuelled range and greater fuel efficiency, all achieved through reduction in the weight of the aircraft and changes in aerodynamic features to reduce drag. Use of new materials like composites in the manufacture of airframes helps reduce weight without compromising on strength. Drag is reduced through refinement in shape of the aircraft and new wing designs. Over a decade and a half ago, winglets were introduced on business jets which reduce induced drag and consequently fuel consumption thereby, optimising aircraft performance resulting in enhanced range. Reduced fuel burn automatically helps cut emissions.