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PEN 002

Environmental protection

Five impact areas

Where aviation affects the environment.

12345
1Emissions2Noise3Contrail cirrus4Air quality5Cloudiness
One flight, five impact areas. Each has a card below, with what can be done about it.
1

Emissions

From the engines
Mitigation
  • Engine design
  • Aircraft design
  • Reducing fuel tankering
  • Sustainable aviation fuels
  • The right aircraft type for the route
ATM mitigation
  • Fewer miles flown
  • SESAR innovation
  • Free route airspace
  • The optimal flight level
  • Continuous descent operations
  • Continuous climb operations

Fuel consumption in Europe

How much fuel goes in each phase of a flight, and how fast it burns.

Pre-departureTaxi out andtake-offClimbCruiseDescentLanding andtaxi in 130 kg 10 kg/min 660 kg 60 kg/min 4 260 kg 60 kg/min 600 kg 40 kg/min 60 kg 8 kg/min
Each drop is drawn to scale: far more fuel goes in the air than on the ground.

Continuous descent and climb

Flying the climb, and the descent, in one smooth go.

Optimal positionCCOContinuous climbCDOContinuous descentContinuousStepped, levelling off on the way
The descent starts from an optimal position. Dashed underneath, the same flight levelling off on the way.
CCOContinuous climb operations

Climbs optimised to the flight profile and the performance of the aircraft. Energy-efficient.

CDOContinuous descent operations

Descends from an optimal position. An energy-efficient method of descending.

Both turn up twice in ATM mitigation: against 1 Emissions and against 2 Noise

2

Noise

Heard on the ground
Mitigation
  • Urban planning
  • Aircraft design
  • Aircraft operating technique
  • Limiting night operations
  • Land-use planning and management
  • Education, awareness and communication
ATM mitigation
  • Using CDO and CCO
  • Avoiding over-flying sensitive sites
  • The optimum runway and routes
3

Contrail cirrus

Contrails that spread
Mitigation
  • Flying under low-emission conditions
  • Forecasts of contrail risk
  • Avoiding contrail risk areas
4

Air quality

Around the aerodrome
Mitigation
  • Aerodrome power plants
  • Fixed electrical ground power
  • Pre-conditioned air supply
  • Shorter taxiing and holding times
5

Cloudiness

Cloud cover added by aircraft
Mitigation
  • Reducing congestion and delays
  • Reducing fuel consumption
  • Avoiding specific areas and altitudes
  • Aircraft engine improvements
  • Alternative aircraft propulsion

Reading material

Professional Environment

PEN 002 Environmental Protection PowerPoint / PDF
EASA, European Aviation Environmental Report 2022, Executive Summary and Recommendations Reading list, free
European ATM Master Plan: Digitalising Europe’s Aviation Infrastructure, Executive View, SESAR Joint Undertaking, 2020 Reference, free
EASA, European Aviation Environmental Report 2022 Reference, free
ICAO Doc 9993, Continuous Climb Operations (CCO) Manual Reference, paid
ICAO Doc 9931, Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) Manual Reference, paid
EUROCONTROL, European CCO / CDO Action Plan, November 2020 Reference, free