Heathrow outlines ‘more ambitious’ environmental plans
By Phil Davies
5th Jan 2016
The boss of Heathrow yesterday signalled “even more ambitious plans” for the airport to be environmentally responsible.
The west London hub set out a series of action plans for how noise, emissions and traffic will be reduced.
Heathrow provided a reported £2 million in funding for five local schools to install ‘adobe domes’ – special outdoor constructions that protect pupils and teachers from noise outdoors. Seven more will be funded in 2016.
The overall aim is to make Heathrow the “most environmentally responsible” airport hub as it battles for approval for a third runway against rival Gatwick. A delayed decision by the government on airport expansion in the southeast is now expected in the summer.
Heathrow chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “2015 saw us commit to a series of action plans that will make us a better neighbour, by reducing noise, emissions and traffic.
“Today we are providing an update on the very significant progress already being made, thanks to the commitment of the airport community.
“But we know that we need to do more, and in the coming months will set out even more ambitious plans that will make an expanded Heathrow the most environmentally responsible hub airport in the world.”
The plans include installing more than 135 additional chargers for at least another 260 electric vehicles.
Other measures include greater alternation between runways at night to give residents more respite from noise and penalties for airlines using older, noisier aircraft.
Environmental landing charges for airlines will double from January 2017 in another incentive to use cleaner aircraft.
Heathrow pledged to spend £16.2 million this year to upgrade and extend coverage of pre-conditioned air units and electric power provision at gates to reduce aircraft emissions on parking stands.
A new app providing real-time public transport and traffic information for passengers travelling on from Heathrow is also to be introduced.
Another app for the airport’s 76,000 staff will help to boost car sharing and more employees will be encouraged to cycle to work, while more ticket offers for travellers using Heathrow Express are expected in 2016.
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/59025/heathrow-outlines-more-ambitious-environmental-plans
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Heathrow Pledges to “Go Electric” with £2 Million Boost for Vehicle Chargers
– CEO signals even more ambitious plans for Heathrow to be environmentally responsible
The go-ahead to install over 135 more chargers for at least another 260 electric vehicles has been given today at Heathrow to help shift greater numbers of vehicles used on and around the airport to electric power and it signals a greater ambition to ‘turn Heathrow electric’.
The Airbus A320 family of aircraft currently make up about 50% of all traffic movements at Heathrow. Low-noise technology is currently fitted onto only a small proportion of the Airbus A320 fleet, representing about 5% of air traffic movements. But in the next 18 months, retrofitting will be accelerated considerably by airlines, thus reducing noise significantly
Heathrow provided funding for five local schools to install ‘adobe domes’ – special outdoor constructions that protect pupils and teachers from noise outdoors – seven more will be funded in 2016On reducing emissions: (presumably meaning in relation to NO2 here)
Environmental landing charges for airlines will double from January 2017 – from £8.57 per kg of NOx emitted to £16.51 per kg – providing another incentive to use cleaner aircraft
Heathrow will invest £16.2m in 2016 to upgrade and extend coverage of pre-conditioned air units and electric power provision at gates to reduce aircraft emissions on parking stands
High level talks between Heathrow and major airlines that will see an early phase-out of older aircraft that don’t meet the international emissions standard (ICAO CAEP) will continue in 2016, complementing existing financial incentives for the best international emissions standard aircraft
Road traffic to the airport has remained static whilst overall passenger numbers have increased. In 1991 40.5 million passengers created a total of 45.4 million car trips but in 2014, passenger numbers totalled 73.4 million creating 46.7 million car trips that year
A new dedicated App providing real-time public transport and traffic information for passengers travelling on from Heathrow will be launched in 2016
76,000 people work at the airport – it is the UK’s largest single site employer – and it already has the UK’s largest car-share network but Heathrow will launch a new app for employees to make it even easier to car share in 2016
During 2016, Heathrow’s blueprints will be reviewed, revised and republished.
http://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/details/81/Corporate-operational-24/5470
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HEATHROW’S BLUEPRINTS TO REDUCE NOISE, EMISSIONS AND TRAFFIC – JANUARY 2016
Quarter by quarter, an overview of existing commitments due to be delivered in 2016.
Quarter 1 (January-March)
- Heathrow’s Air Quality Strategy for 2020 and supporting Action Plan will be updated and published
- Results of a study into the proportion of aircraft at Heathrow meeting the best international emissions standard (ICAO CAEP) [for CO2 emissions] will be published to inform talks with airlines on the early phase-out of older aircraft
- Onward Travel Zones providing real-time public transport and traffic information will be rolled out in Terminals 3 & 4 and the Central Bus Station
- A new plan for improving the cycling experience around Heathrow will be published
- A new Drivers’ Charter for minicabs and their operators to help better serve passengers and the local community will be finalised
- A new car-share app for Heathrow employees will be launched
- Employee ‘commuter plans’ tailored to individuals will be piloted and rolled-out
- Steeper approaches trial (3.2 degrees instead of 3 degrees) started in September 2015 involving 20 airlines is due to complete
- Fly Quiet League Table for Quarter 4 2015 will be published
- Automatic monitoring for reduced-engine taxiing (RET) for arrivals will be introduced (automatic monitoring was introduced for departures in 2015)
Quarter 2 (April-June)
- New and updated blueprints to reduce noise, emissions and traffic will be published
- A new real-time onward travel information app and website for passengers will be developed
- Fly Quiet League Table for Quarter 1 will be published
Quarter 3 (July-September)
- £16.2m upgrade programme starts to pre-conditioned air and energy supply units for aircraft at gates in Terminals 2,3 and 5
- Steeper approaches trial report is due to be published
- Fly Quiet League Table for Quarter 2 will be published
- Sustainable transport incentives for Heathrow employees will be launched
Quarter 4 (October-December)
- Fly Quiet League Table for Quarter 3 will be published
http://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/details/81/Corporate-operational-24/5470
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