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

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
For many of the ATM technologies in the testing phase, only a small scale trial has been
implemented in several airports with the highest need (i.e., the most congested).
Estimates of ATM efficiency will improve as these technologies are demonstrated on a
larger scale. Although NextGen has a series of midterm goals to increase absorption of
these technologies by 2018, an aggressive pursuit of these measures could be driven by
policy mandates or initiatives towards technology adoption. Additional funding also
would be required to roll out the package of ATM strategies nationwide.
Aviation System Efficiency Improvements in Progress
New and extended runways. New runways and runway extensions provide the most significant capacity
increases, and also offer efficiency improvements. Since fiscal year 2000, 15 new runways and one runway
extension have opened at the 35 Operational Evolution Partnership Plan airports, providing these airports
with the potential to accommodate 1.9 million more annual operations (FAA, 2007).
Optimized Profile Descent procedures. OPDs have been implemented on all three standard, easterly
arrival routes into Los Angeles International Airport using the Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR). Las
Vegas and Phoenix have also designed and implemented STAR procedures with OPD, and six other
airports now have STARs with OPD in various stages of development. OPD flight trials have also been
conducted in Atlanta and Miami.
Area navigation and required navigation performance. In Atlanta, RNAV/RNP procedures have been
implemented and have increased productivity by 20-30 percent, leading to as many as 10 additional
departures per hour. Two RNAV STARs were implemented at Phoenix International Airport in October 2006.
Wide Area Augmentation System. As of March 2009, there are over 1500 WAAS-based LPV (Localizer
Performance with Vertical Guidance) approaches at nearly 800 airports, and the FAA has a 2009 Flight Plan
goal to publish at least 500 WAAS approaches.
Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast. The FAA first rolled out ADS-B in Alaska. In the lower 48,
United Parcel Service (UPS) voluntarily equipped 107 of its aircraft with ADS-B avionics in order to save
time, fuel, and carbon emissions on flights to and from its Louisville hub (FAA 2009).
Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures. ATOP is now used at the three en route centers that
handle oceanic traffic – New York, Oakland, and Anchorage.
Low emissions ground support equipment and access vehicles. A number of airports have implemented
low-emissions GSE and GAV such as natural gas or electric vehicles, usually to reduce emissions of air
pollutants in non-attainment areas. Examples include Boston Logan, San Francisco, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and
Los Angeles international airports. The FAA’s Inherently Low Emissions Airport Vehicle Pilot Program
(ILEAV) provided grants to support testing and adoption of such equipment at six airports between 2000
and 2005 (FAA 2006).
Other airport emission reduction measures. The FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE)
program, created in 2004, is program that is designed to allow airports to improve or expand while still
complying with Clean Air Act requirements; the program provides grants and credits for emissions
reducing projects (alternative fuel vehicles, gate electrification, etc.), which also are likely to have GHG
benefits. As of March 2009, the FAA has issued 22 VALE grants to 10 airports that have generated $30
million worth of investments in clean airport technology.
Source: Compiled from Federal Aviation Administration NextGen documents and personal
communication with FAA staff, April 2009.
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