Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
� 4.5 Aviation Operations
Description
Aviation operations strategies can
conserve fuel and reduce CO2 emissions
from aviation by reducing delays and
increasing efficiency in airport and
airspace operational procedures.
System and operational efficiency
measures can be applied to each of
three distinct elements of aviation
operations: the airport infrastructure,
carrier and airport operations, and the
National Airspace System (NAS)
operations. In addition, some measures
affect both carrier/airport and NAS
operations.
• Airport infrastructure and
equipment. Examples of airport
infrastructure improvements
include new and extended runways
to reduce delays at congested
airports (though benefits may be
offset by increased travel),
improved taxiway design to
facilitate better flow, and electrified
4-74
Aviation Operations
Benefits: Low to Moderate: 8.9 to 25.2 mmt CO2e in
2035
Direct Costs: Unknown
Net Included Costs: Unknown
• Many strategies likely to achieve net cost savings
Confidence in Estimates: Moderate
• Multiple sources in relatively close agreement
• Sources cite ranges due to uncertainty and
interdependencies among NAS requirements and
stakeholder objectives.
Key Co-Benefits and Impacts: Positive
• Reduced traveler delay; cost savings for airlines;
reduced emissions at airports
Feasibility: High
• Initiatives in progress
Key Policy Options:
• Continued funding and institutional support for
NextGen program and airport investment and
modernization
• Requirements or incentives for airport GHG
inventories and reduction practices
gates to reduce aircraft engine use. Equipment includes more efficient or alternativefuel
airport ground support equipment (GSE) and ground access vehicles (GAV).
• Carrier/airport operations. During the ground operations, aircraft consume fuel while
taxiing, maneuvering to and from gates, and idling while waiting to take off or for
available gates. Airlines and airports can implement strategies to reduce fuel
consumption and GHG emissions from these operations, including aircraft tugging to
the runway and single-engine taxiing.
• NAS operations. The set of measures for controlling and managing airspace capacity
are known as air traffic management (ATM) technologies. Ground, terminal and en
route operations are carried out by pilots operating under the guidance and control of
airlines and air traffic controllers. Operational efficiencies can be achieved during
ground operations, vertical ascent and descent, and the horizontal en-route trajectory:
− ATM efficiency measures during the ground operations include providing takeoff
assignments to aircraft to limit the length of taxi queues and surface congestion.