EADS

When talking about the aerospace industry and climate change, most observers focus on civil air transport. Yes, aviation has to reduce emissions, but first, it is important to have a strong factual basis for ecological decisions. How can we monitor the status of the world’s ecosystems if not from above? EADS, the world’s second largest aerospace and defence company, is making a significant contribution to the Kopernikus initiative of the European Union and the member states of the European Space Agency - formerly known as GMES - by providing high-performance satellites built by the company’s Astrium Division. Using ten sophisticated optical and radar instruments, Envisat, the largest Earth Observation spacecraft ever built, is already helping to monitor the environment. It is clear, however, as we watch from space, we have to take action on earth. The best way to do this is through a collaborative approach involving industry, politics and civil society.

Envisat, the ENVIronment SATellite helps scientists to gain a better understanding of the effects of global warming on the environment

Delivering a versatile approach

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change attributes 2% of global carbon emissions to aviation, but mounting demand for air transport could cause this figure to reach 3% by 2050. The critical task of aviation is to achieve a balance between two requirements: considerably reducing aviation’s carbon footprint while supporting further growth in air traffic. Why? Because aviation means freedom for individuals and prosperity for economies in an ever-increasing number of countries. And we should not put at risk the progress mobility brings. Appropriate regulatory measures can contribute, for example, to accelerate fleet renewal, but only major efforts in innovation will allow us to reduce the overall environmental impact of aviation, while maintaining the multiple benefits it brings. Creating added value while reducing our environmental impact, this is what we call eco-efficiency in our EADS Vision 2020.

Tangible change is underway. Airbus is the first big aerospace company ever to receive the ISO 14001 certification covering not only its European sites, but also its product-related activities throughout their life cycle. It is currently working towards extending certification to cover activities in China and the United States as well. The Environmental Management System (EMS) makes our environmental effort measurable across all the Company against ambitious objectives. More than three quarters of the employees who work for EADS, mother Company of Airbus, are now covered by an ISO 14001 certified EMS, minimising environmental impact at source, right from the design phase, wherever possible.With our aircraft recycling project, PAMELA, we have demonstrated that 85% of the materials in an aircraft could be recycled. In the meantime, a joint venture has begun to construct a first aircraft dismantling facility in France to recover aircraft material for recycling or reuse (TARMAC AEROSAVE).

Industry and politics – taking action together

Airbus has subscribed to the ACARE (Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe) vision and goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2020. Similarly, aircraft noise levels are to be reduced by 50% and NOx emissions by 80%. In order to reach these ambitious goals, EADS and Airbus are underscoring their commitment with huge investments as major partners in the European Union’s Joint Technology Initiative Clean Sky and shaping the future single European Sky through the SESAR Project. Furthermore, in a transversal industry partnership, Airbus has – on yet another front – already conducted tests with alternative fuel on the A380 and is intensively working towards a second generation of biofuels. Together with the sector (airlines, engines manufacturers, airports, suppliers…), we are all concretely embarked towards carbon neutral growth.

Taking you to the skies – eco-efficiently

The A380 is the most spacious, most fuel-efficient and quietest airliner in commercial service

The fuel consumption of the A380 is less than three litres per passenger per 100 kilometres. By comparison, a midsize car consumes 5.3 litres over the same distance. This amazing progress continues a long tradition. Over the last 40 years, the aviation industry has already achieved a 70% reduction in fuel burn. Other sectors of the aerospace industry are also applying new technologies to preserve our environment. Eurocopter’s new rotor technology, for example, cuts noise emissions by up to 90%. Actions speak louder than words.

The first steps have been taken towards greener aviation, and more technologies are in the pipeline. Advanced fuel cell and hydrogen technologies promise to further reduce CO2 emissions. Fuel cell and hydrogen power plants have already been tested and can now produce energy in standby emergency power sets as a substitute for the RAM Air Turbine (RAT) in airplanes. The next steps will involve the operation of small fuel cell systems to generate electric power.

Inventing greener aviation

Aerospace is a fascinating industry. It is a sector in which people transform visions into products, driven by a constant, strong focus on innovation. We have already embarked on the journey of realising the vision of greener aviation. The aerospace industry will arrive at its destination via contributing its whole breadth of solutions and systems – such as navigation and air traffic management based on satellite applications. Combining mobility and sustainability is a challenge, but we will master it.

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