Aircraft Efficiency
Beginner’s Guide to Aviation Efficiency
November 2010
Contents
The importance of aviation
Introduction The miracle of flight History of fuel efficiency Designing aircraft Designing engines Operating the aircraft In the air On the ground Carbon-neutral growth and the next steps The next generation
Page 1 Page 2 Page 5 Page 6 Page 10 Page 13 • Aviation is responsibly reducing its environmental impact. Page 15 Page 20 Page 22 Page 24 • Air transport’s contribution to climate change represents 2% of man-made CO2 emissions and this could reach 3% by 2050, according to updated figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). • This evolution is based on a growth in aviation CO2 emissions of 2-3% per year, with an annual traffic growth of 5%. • Aviation provides the only rapid worldwide transportation network, is indispensable for economic development, tourism and facilitates world trade. Air transport improves quality of life in countless ways. • Air transport moves over 2.2 billion passengers annually. • The air transport industry generates a total of 32 million jobs globally. • Aviation’s global economic impact (direct, indirect, induced and catalytic) is estimated at $3,560 billion, equivalent to 7.5% of world gross domestic product.
This publication is for information purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of information in this publication, it is made available without any warranty of any kind. All currency is in US Dollars. This Guide is written in metric units, except where normal aeronautical use requires imperial units (i.e. altitude in feet and distance in nautical miles). A list of sources and references can be obtained at www.enviro.aero/aviationefficiency.
Introduction
Aviation has come a long way. With over two billion people travelling safely around the world every year and some 23,000 aircraft in commercial service, the aviation industry today provides a lifeline to
November 2010
Contents
The importance of aviation
Introduction The miracle of flight History of fuel efficiency Designing aircraft Designing engines Operating the aircraft In the air On the ground Carbon-neutral growth and the next steps The next generation
Page 1 Page 2 Page 5 Page 6 Page 10 Page 13 • Aviation is responsibly reducing its environmental impact. Page 15 Page 20 Page 22 Page 24 • Air transport’s contribution to climate change represents 2% of man-made CO2 emissions and this could reach 3% by 2050, according to updated figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). • This evolution is based on a growth in aviation CO2 emissions of 2-3% per year, with an annual traffic growth of 5%. • Aviation provides the only rapid worldwide transportation network, is indispensable for economic development, tourism and facilitates world trade. Air transport improves quality of life in countless ways. • Air transport moves over 2.2 billion passengers annually. • The air transport industry generates a total of 32 million jobs globally. • Aviation’s global economic impact (direct, indirect, induced and catalytic) is estimated at $3,560 billion, equivalent to 7.5% of world gross domestic product.
This publication is for information purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of information in this publication, it is made available without any warranty of any kind. All currency is in US Dollars. This Guide is written in metric units, except where normal aeronautical use requires imperial units (i.e. altitude in feet and distance in nautical miles). A list of sources and references can be obtained at www.enviro.aero/aviationefficiency.
Introduction
Aviation has come a long way. With over two billion people travelling safely around the world every year and some 23,000 aircraft in commercial service, the aviation industry today provides a lifeline to