aviation and the environment ‘Greener’ skies give rise to dark clouds by Charles Alcock Anyone in the air transport sector who remains unconvinced by the clarion calls for aviation to be held accountable for its impact on the environment will surely accept that sustained increases in the cost H S of jet fuel have removed any remaining O T N I doubt about the imperative for the industry C M D to make more efficient use of this life- I V A blood commodity. And whether the cli- D mate-change deniers like it or not, airlines operating into and within Europe will soon also aimed at giving Europe ownership of be facing the additional financial burden To reduce aviation’s carbon footprint, many of the technologies that will dominate of being subject to the European Union’s the industry as environmental considerations environmental trading scheme (ETS), Europe bets on ‘Clean Sky’ technologies achieve preeminence in the consideration of which will require them to account for and new aircraft and engine designs. pay for the carbon their aircraft emit. Establishing the governance of the Clean The finer details of how ETS–which by Julian Moxon Sky program was one of the major chal- other industries are already subject lenges faced during its launch. At its heart to–will be applied to air transport are still In early February, Europe got serious aviation is seen as not being acceptable. are a series of principles aimed at “maxi- being resolved, with the European Com- about reducing the impact of aviation on Clean Sky is an excellent way of address- mizing the involvement of European Union mission and the European Parliament the environment with the launch of its ing the challenges we face in developing member states, ensuring full accountability holding different positions on issues such biggest ever technology development pro- more sustainable aviation.” for spending, achieving the right balance as what initial carbon credits airlines will gram–the $2.3 billion Clean Sky initiative. The program is extremely complex and between flexibility and efficiency and en- be granted. In any case, ETS will come The objectives of the program are impres- is expected to involve up to 86 organiza- suring total transparency.” The EC also into effect no later than 2012 and by the sive: to achieve a 50-percent reduction in tions from 16 countries and 54 industries. wanted specifically to involve the so-called time of the next Farnborough airshow in carbon dioxide emissions and 80 percent in The European Commission (EC) and an in- small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). 2010 carriers will already be required to those of nitrous oxide, a 50-percent cut dustrial group under its Joint Technology The need for transparency in a program of calculate their carbon footprint to be in external noise and a revolution in the Initiative (JTI) mechanism for providing re- this size aimed at developing breakthrough ready to join ETS. technology of recycling aircraft linked to search funding manage the program. It em- technologies brings its own problems in an While the air transport lobby in Eu- their design and manufacture. braces all the major players in the European industry based on competitiveness, both intra- rope has effectively accepted ETS as un- “Clean Sky will address two simple aviation industry, its annual expenditures European and globally. According to Alenia avoidable, it is still fighting against moves questions,” said Saab Aircraft president and being greater than the turnover of many Aeronautica’s special projects manager Achil- at national levels by countries such as the CEO Ake Svensson: “How we fly and what of the small- and medium-size companies le Carbone, the system works by ensuring that UK and the Netherlands to impose addi- we fly. The carbon footprint left behind by involved. It is no secret that the program is Continued on page 42 u tional green taxes on aviation. There has been staunch opposition from the U.S. to EUROPE’S CLEAN SKY PROGRAM INITIATIVES the notion that its carriers will be subject to ETS when they fly into Europe, but Six major integrated technology demonstrator (ITD) packages comprise the $2.3 billion Clean Sky program. Each is headed by two major more recently America’s political tide on European companies that will be supported by several associates tasked with a range of challenges. the environment seems to be turning CO-LEADERS ITD TASK FUNDING toward an acceptance that some form of carbon capping is inevitable. Rolls-Royce Sustainable and Five engine demonstrators will be built to demonstrate low-fuel burn and $648 million So apart from hiring yet more account- and Safran green engines emissions, including two open-rotor configurations. ants to count carbon emissions and nego- Smart fixed-wing Developing new aircraft configurations, active wing technologies and tiate new fuel price hedge positions in Airbus and Saab $605 million what is undoubtedly a seller’s market, aircraft other aerodynamic advances. what can air transport do to ensure a sus- Focusing on all-electric equipment and new systems architectures, tainable future for itself in the long term? Systems for Thales and Liebherr improvements in thermal management, improved trajectory management $468 million green operations The rising cost of jet-A and the prospect and improved ground operations. of emissions trading have provided an even stronger impetus to a multi-pronged Alenia Aeronautica and Delivering low-weight aircraft using smart structures, low external noise Green regional aircraft $267 million drive to find technological answers to EADS CASA configurations and integrating technology developments in other areas. aviation’s green dilemma. Innovative rotor blade designs, engine installation, reduced airframe In the report that follows, AIN staffers Eurocopter and Green rotorcraft drag, integration of new diesel engine technology and advanced $244 million outline some of the main initiatives being AgustaWestland advanced to reduce aviation’s environ- electrical systems for elimination of noxious hydraulic fluids. mental impact, while also sharpening its Focusing on reducing the environmental impact of aircraft throughout competitive edge at a time when its cost Dassault Aviation and Eco-design the life cycle, from design to withdrawal from service and minimum- $178 million Fraunhofer Institute structure is facing the prospect of some energy, maximum recovery recycling. uncomfortable buffeting. I 40 Aviation International News • July 14, 2008 • www.ainonline.com aviation and the environment Future engine advances: a vital part of ‘Clean Sky’ success Counter rotating propfan Counter rotating LPT Structural mid frame by Julian Moxon With the cost of crude oil heading for service between 2015 and 2025, and Nacelle & primary exhaust $150 a barrel, the need to develop more include a 15- to 20-percent reduction in Variable pitch system fuel-efficient engines has never been carbon dioxide production, a 15- to 40- greater, but with the industry already com- percent cut in nitrous oxides and a 15dB mitted to doubling by 2020 the historic reduction of noise compared to aircraft LP compressor Adaptation of IP turbine 1-percent per year rate at which fuel effi- entering service today. existing HP core ciency gains are made, where do the extra The program is split into two segments: savings come from? advanced low- and high-pressure system Doubts have been expressed about the viability of open-rotor engine technology, but with oil prices The European Commission’s Clean technology, and new engine concepts. threatening the very sustainability of air transport, engine makers Snecma and Rolls-Royce are Sky program is a “very important” part of It covers the design, manufacture and united in their belief that they have to make a go of advanced new concepts such as this. the answer, according to Rolls-Royce’s ground test of engines or high-pressure director of research and technology Ric sections. Demonstrators will center on Parker, and with two of the five potential high bypass ratio, low-weight technolo- demonstrator engines focusing on open- gies, high-efficiency components, new power conventional turbofan demonstrator, the that those living near an airport do not rotor designs, the emphasis on what the for more electric engines and new controls emphasis is very much on open rotors. All perceive the noise of an open rotor as Clean Sky agenda calls “radical architec- for smart engines. possible options will be considered, includ- different from that of today’s engines.” ture change” is clear. Declared objectives are “to design, build ing contra rotating pusher and puller, as Safran’s Ventre is optimistic that open Under the European Commission’s and test a number of demonstrator vehicles well as direct and geared drive. Rolls- rotors have a future. “If the price of oil Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (JTI), and rigs to validate the benefits of innova- Royce and Safran subsidiary Snecma will remains as it is or continues to rise, I don’t Rolls-Royce and its partner Snecma are tive, environmental technologies in a realis- each build demonstrators, depending on the see how we can do without this kind of leading the sustainable and green engines tic operating environment.” Anticipated results of initial tests of scale models, some technology,” he said. Parker agreed: “I am op- integrated technology demonstrator (ITD) deliverable results, expected in 2014, are of which have already being carried out. timistic that, given time and adequate invest- program, which will receive