FAQs

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What are the benefits from a modern ATM?

Fuel consumption is about 25-40 per cent lower during the last 45 km. of a flight. Noise footprints of Continuous Approach Operations (CDO) is substantially smaller than the footprints of conventional approach procedures. 

How does Airbus support air traffic management?

Airbus, through its Airbus ProSky subsidiary, is dedicated to the development and support of modern air traffic management (ATM) systems, to achieve the highest operational efficiencies with more direct routings – resulting in around ten per cent less aircraft fuel consumption, and significant reductions in CO2 and noise emissions.

What is Airbus’ alternative fuels strategy?

To help develop sustainable alternative fuel solutions. To help with the approval process of alternative fuels and to demonstrate that alternative fuels work on current and future aircraft. To speed up the commercialisation and use of alternative fuels in aviation via the establishment of value chains (regional solutions suiting local habitat and fauna, including use of non-biomass material) around the world.

Is alternative fuel different from standard jet fuel?

Alternative jet fuel has identical chemical properties to standard jetfuel. Alternative certified fuels work on today’s aircraft without any engine modification. The lifecycle of standard and biofuel are different. As a consequence, the CO2 footprint is expected to be lower for alternatives fuels.

What percentage of each aircraft’s components can be recycled?

As much as 85 per cent of each aircraft’s components can be safely and effectively reused, recovered or recycled. Airbus and TARMAC AEROSAVE have proven a successful way of dismantling and recycling the entire product range of Airbus’ aircraft in an environmentally and financially viable approach. 

Learn more on the “Aircraft end-of-life” page.

What does biomimicry mean?

Biomimicry is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems. This is known as biologically-inspired engineering. A growing number of aeronautical innovations are inspired by an array of natural structures, organs and materials – and these tried and tested patterns of the natural world will continue to be a powerful source of inspiration in the future. When nature has solutions like this to offer, it’s clear why we all have an interest in protecting the world around us.

What are the targets of the Blue5 Project?

The purpose of blue5 is to draw the roadmap for reducing the environmental footprint of Airbus operations by 2020. Blue5 applies the environmental aspects of the Vision 2020:
• 30% reduction in energy consumption 
• 50% reduction in CO2 emissions 
• 50% reduction in VOC emissions 
• 50% reduction in water consumption
• 80% reduction in waste water discharge 
• 50% reduction in waste production

Read the EADS CR&S report for details on where Airbus stands on each of the environmental targets. 

What is “Flightpath 2050”?

The European Aviation Vision 2050 emphasized the need for a sustainable approach to research and innovation, with the aim to develop an integrated transport system responding to society’s needs in Europe. 

Airbus is committed to “Flightpath 2050” and sets the following technology targets to allow by 2050:
• 75%* CO2 emissions reduction/passenger/km.
• 90% NOx emissions reduction
• 65% Noise reduction

These are relative to the capabilities of typical new aircraft in 2000.*75%= 65% related to the product + 10% related to the infrastructures.

What do you call a “Perfect Flight”?

A “Perfect Flight” can be achieved through the combination of all best practices currently available, such as operating the most eco-efficient aircraft, using sustainable alternative fuels and implementing a truly streamlined Air Traffic Management (ATM) system.

For example, in October 2011 Airbus and Air-France completed the world’s greenest commercial flight by putting into practice multiple elements in the Airbus roadmap: alternative fuels, optimised ATM, green navigation. The flight from Toulouse to Paris, which used an Airbus A321, emitted half the CO2 of a regular flight.

On June 2012, Airbus and Air Canada performed North America's first "Perfect Flight" over international borders, with the goal of cutting CO2 emissions by more than 40 per cent compared to a regular flight. The commercial flight of an Airbus A319 aircraft from Toronto, Canada to Mexico City combined the use of a modern, state-of-the-art aircraft, powered by sustainable alternative fuels, guided by streamlined air traffic management procedures and facilitated through best practice operations to under-pin the industry's four-pillar strategy to tackle carbon emissions.

What are fuel cells?

A fuel cell is a device that transforms the energy of hydrogen into electricity (by combining the hydrogen with oxygen in a “cold” combustion). The only waste produced is water, heat and oxygen-depleted air, with no emissions or noise.  In addition, the water produced can be used by the aircraft’s water and waste systems, which lessens the amount of water that must be carried on board. This reduces weight, which in turn further reduces fuel burn and emissions.

What are the prospects for fuel cells?

It is unlikely that fuel cell technology will be used as a primary power source in the near future. Instead, Airbus is looking at using fuel cells for the cabin and aircraft systems, with applications that include powering the air conditioning and starting the engine. 

In June 2011, Airbus extended the scope of its fuel cell R&T activities by partnering with Parker Aerospace. Within this partnership, Airbus is responsible for the overall aircraft system architecture and technology integration, with Parker supplying the multifunctional fuel cell system and managing different subsystem suppliers. 

The objective of this cooperation is development of a technology demonstrator followed by a joint flight test campaign planned for the middle of the decade, including operational and infrastructural tests. With Parker Aerospace involved in the project from this earliest phase, industrialisation can be considered throughout the process’ development, rather than at the end. 

In July 2011, Airbus performed research tests with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) on autonomous taxiing using fuel cell technology. A DLR-designed technology demonstrator was installed in the DLR-owned A320 fuel cell test aircraft at Airbus’ site in Hamburg. The technology demonstrator consists of a fuel cell powering an electric motor, which drives the nose landing gear wheels – allowing the aircraft to taxi autonomously.

What are the prospects for biofuels?

For second-generation biofuels (which do not compete with food, land or water), Airbus conducts sustainability studies while acting as a catalyst, and develops value chain projects all over the world – connecting local farmers, refiners and airlines. 

Learn more on the “Alternative Fuels” page.

Is aviation the biggest contributor to CO2 emissions?

It is widely accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that aviation accounts for around 2 per cent of CO2 emissions, which may rise to 3 per cent by 2050. 

In comparison, road transport contributes 18 per cent of all CO2 emissions, with industry accounting for 23 per cent and power generation at 35 per cent.

How much does Airbus invest to improve its environmental performance?

80 per cent of the company’s 2 billion-euro research and development budget contributes directly to eco-efficiency.

What is a life-cycle approach?

A life-cycle approach is the analysis of a product’s environmental impacts at each step – from raw material procurement through manufacturing, operation and end-of-life – in order to control and reduce these impacts in the most efficient and appropriate way.

Learn more on the “Eco-efficiency” page.

What does “eco-efficient” mean?

For Airbus, eco-efficient means creating value with less environmental impact – in other words, doing more with less.

Airbus continually seeks and implements ways to produce more aircraft while using fewer resources and producing less waste. The company consistently monitors and minimises the environmental impact of its production processes and aircraft throughout their lifecycle – from design and production phases, through the full operational lifetimes, to eventual dismantling and recycling after retirement from service.