GAP-JOURNAL 2012/13 - AFA

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As the above analysis shows, IT can influence air traffic operation and by it, its environmental
impacts strongly. Hence, by fostering environmental sustainability inair
transport through IT, the current generation can reduce its environmental impact. Onthe
one hand this can enhance the overall environmental sustainability globally and onthe
other hand this can allow future generations to use air transportation the same way as
this generation did and does.
Summary and conclusions
All inall, multiple possibilities exist how IT can and could beutilized to support environmentallysustainableair
transportation. Figure 2presents an overview.
Figure 2:
IT-enabled initiatives forenvironmentally sustainable airtransport
Source: Author’s compilation based on analysis and sources above.
The analysis underlines that IT enablement allows improving environmental sustainability
inall phases before, during and after the actual flight. Implemented fully, integrating
environmental factors into long-term network planning, execution systems that
improve on-ground taxiing and that environmentally enhance ATC routings appear to
have astrong impact on sustainability. Options in mid- and short-term systems could be
of smaller impact except for improved route planning systems augmenting newest prediction
technologies oraircraft selection.
If environmental sustainabilityisthe primary and onlyaim of optimization, asignificant
potential seems tobepossible. However, two important limitations remain: First, air
transport companies need totake economic performance concerns into consideration. In
2010 airline industry margins amounted to only 1.3% of revenues (IATA 2012: 11).
Therefore, cost efficiency is an important factor toensure economic sustainability. Secondly,
safety isamajor concern in aviation. If the proposed ITmeasures touch safety
related topics significantly, environmental thinking will usually bebeat by safety fears.