In the US, the airlines are ranked annually based on their fuel-efficiency and in 2011-12 Alaska Airlines took the top spot, thanks to its regional subsidiary Horizon Air which flies turboprop aircraft. Horizon Air is said to have propped up the airline’s fuel-efficiency ratings substantially, otherwise Alaska would have been lower in ranking. Fuel-efficiency is one key factor that impacts climate. The aviation sector is said to account for about 11 per cent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector (four per cent of the total). Globally, aviation greenhouse gas emissions are rising from three per cent to four per cent annually and are on a pace to quadruple soon. The contribution of regional aviation is substantial, considering that over 40 per cent passenger movement is accounted for by regional airlines in the US.

Regional Footprint

Regional airline network is growing across the world and efforts are on to continuously improve their environment footprint. The rapid growth of air travel in recent years is contributing to an increase in total pollution attributable to aviation. There is an ongoing debate about possible taxation of air travel and the inclusion of aviation in an emissions trading scheme, with a view to ensuring that total external costs of aviation are taken into account.

Turboprops Fare Better

Today, compared to jet airliners, turboprop aircraft, probably in part because of their lower cruising speeds and altitudes similar to the piston-powered airliners in the days gone by play an obvious role in the overall fuel-efficiency of regional airlines which have a mix of turboprops and jets.

ATR ‘Green Aircraft’ Vision

ATR is an exclusive turboprop airframer that has expanded its market solely on the premise that they are best suited for short-haul flights. Irrespective of the distances these aircraft fly, being environment-friendly remains at the core. ATR and its partners are participating in the international research and project development to have environment-friendly products and solutions. The Clean Sky Project is a Joint Technology Initiative for Aeronautics and Air Transport in the framework of ACARE goals in terms of lowering gaseous emissions and noise. In 2011, ATR renewed and expanded its ISO 14001 certification, concerning businesses’ adherence to environmental standards. The broadening in scope of the certification enables ATR to become the first regional aircraft manufacturer to obtain the certification covering the entire life-cycle of the aircraft.

ATR has already made considerable progress in being environment-friendly. It has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon dioxide and fuel consumption have been reduced by nearly 50 per cent per passenger kilometre and the company is in full compliance with the Chapter 4 Noise Regulations.

ATR’s environmental vision is to make its ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) a reference by continuously improving the EMS applicable to ATR aircraft and sites, maintain regulatory conformity to the requirements applicable to aircraft and sites, make the environment a company culture etc. It intends to reduce the environmental footprint of its aircraft by introducing an even “greener” life-cycle throughout the life of the aircraft. There is meticulous planning from design, control and/or reduce the use of hazardous substances, the consumption of natural resources and generated waste. The company communicates good environmental practices to its suppliers and partners by integrating its environmental requirements from design, taking the environment into account in choice criteria and communicating good operational, maintenance/recycling practices for aircraft to its customers.

ATR’s aims are to innovate to reach gas emission objectives, reduce NOx emissions by 60 per cent and C02 emissions by 20 per cent. ATR promises its partners and suppliers to ensure 100 per cent regulatory conformity, circulate its requirements and good environmental practices as well as share its strategic “green” aircraft vision.

Embraer ‘Natural’ Links

Over 30 per cent of the world’s rainforests are in Brazil. That is why Brazil in general and Embraer in particular accept a special responsibility to do its share in preserving the “lungs of the world” and the Amazon’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide and generate fresh air for planet Earth. Embraer’s backyard is the rainforest. Embraer regards environmental quality an important segment within the company’s operations aimed at creating awareness and guiding all its employees, as well as research work. Because of its constant concern for the environment, Embraer has set up documents, procedures and plans for monitoring and measuring, from time to time, the main aspects of the company’s operations and activities that may have a significant impact on the environment. This is in addition to other procedures and plans to improve the quality of life at work and lessen the environmental impact.

The Brazilian giant recognises the importance of ISO 14001. It actively works in all Embraer national units and obtains it for the international ones by significantly investing in the development of its environmental, occupational health, safety and quality integrated management system, internally called SIG-MASSQ. Embraer units in Brazil are certified by the ISO 14001 norm and it was the first aeronautical company in the world to accomplish that goal. Embraer is recycling more than 80 per cent of production materials.

Embraer always considers the recyclability of materials produced by day-to-day activities, from packaging to organic residues to metal particles arising from its manufacturing processes. Wood, pastics, styrofoam, paper and cardboard—all of these are carefully managed to ensure the highest rates of reuse. The company is continually investing in green facilities, including improving the efficiency of its compressed air network in the São José dos Campos factory complex and powering airconditioning in buildings by natural gas. Embraer has been recognised twice by the Federation of industries of the State of São Paulo for its progressive energy consumption programme.

Alternative Fuel

In 2012, Azul Brazilian Airlines launched an Embraer E-195 demonstration flight using a 50:50 blend of conventional jet fuel and AMJ 700, a renewable fuel produced from the fermentation of Brazilian sugarcane. The demonstration flight was part of the Azul+Verde (meaning a greener blue in Portuguese) Renewable Jet Fuel project, which was jointly developed with Embraer, GE and Amyris Inc from November 2009.

According to Embraer, AMJ 700 fuel is made using modified microorganisms that function as living factories, converting sugar into pure renewable hydrocarbon. Such a process results in a renewable jet fuel that, once approved, will meet the most rigorous requirements of the aviation industry as well as the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Bombardier’s Sustainable Products

The leading manufacturer of planes and trains has committed itself to an environment-friendly path. It is creating sustainable products, while maintaining significant focus on improving the environmental performance of its manufacturing, service and other operating facilities worldwide. Bombardier’s Health, Safety and Environment Council guides the company’s environmental strategy and the implementation of the HSE Preventive Culture.

Bombardier’s ambitious project CSeries, which has been delayed, nevertheless boasts of environment-friendly aircraft. The CSeries aircraft contain 70 per cent advanced materials comprising 46 per cent composite materials and 24 per cent aluminium lithium which allows for a 15 per cent lower seat-mile cost and a significant reduction in maintenance costs. The CSeries aircraft will also permit a significant fuel burn advantage and noise reduction.

Bombardier’s long-term environmental strategy includes mitigating environmental impact while growing its business, decreasing the amount of natural resources such as water, energy and raw materials used in production processes as well as minimising/eliminating the use of hazardous substances.

Bombardier reduced its energy consumption by 11 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent between 2009 and 2013, exceeding its goal of ten per cent reduction. It reduced its water consumption by six per cent, between 2012 and 2013, exceeding its goal of one per cent reduction.

Bombardier has stated that as it continues to increase its production and footprint, the goal is to continue to mitigate its environmental impact across all its businesses. “While we have been concentrating our resources on new product programmes in order to grow our business, we have had to put on hold some of the investments we would like to make in the environmental performance of our sites. Nevertheless, we continue to improve the efficiency of our facilities.”

All regional airframers are keeping themselves abreast of developments that are in sync with environmental concerns. The ICAO resolution has set out a clear path towards 2020, from which point emissions attributable to aviation will not increase. In practical terms this means no matter how fast the industry grows, the emissions from current and new aircraft will be reduced through improved design, more efficient operations, better use of infrastructure, use of sustainable alternative fuels and by offsetting aviation emissions against reductions which can be made in other industries and projects more efficiently and effectively.