General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
CAA consults on its environmental role
The CAA is now consulting - until 12th April 2012 - on its ambition to help improve the environmental performance of UK aviation. A final document is set for publication later in 2012. The CAA has only recently produced their Insight Note on "Aviation Policy for the Environment". Environmental issues cover carbon emissions, noise and local air pollution. The CAA has not been tasked by the government to take on an environmental role, though in the Transport Committee on 13th December Theresa Villiers said that "there is no explicit inclusion (in the draft Civil Aviation Bill)of a duty to take on board environmental factors. That would not stop the CAA from taking a balanced approach...." The CAA questions are vague, but they have set themselves activities and desired outcomes by 2016 on which stakeholders can comment.
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WWF disputes aviation authority’s call for new runways
WWF and the AEF (Aviation Environment Federation) disagree with the CAA arguments of needing more airport capacity in the south-east. A recent WWF report shows that there is enough capacity in the south-east and other regions to meet demand, in line with the recommended limits on aviation growth laid down by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) to ensure the sector plays a role in limiting its carbon emissions. Presuming larger planes in coming decades, for increased efficiency per passenger, it is likely that there would only be perhaps a 1% shortfall in capacity by 2050. WWF says the CAA and others pressing for more airport capacity should take proper account of the climate implications of their plans. They are just the latest in aviation industry 'groupthink' that new runways will magically lift us out of recession. They will not.
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Airlines could net £1.6bn windfall from EU carbon trading scheme, report says
Far from damaging US airlines, the EU ETS could deliver it a €2 billion windfall profit, according to a new report by a US Federal Aviation Administration-funded group of academics. Bill Hemmings, the aviation spokesman for the European environmental pressure group Transport & Environment, said that it "called seriously into question" air industry claims that the ETS would leave them out of pocket. Instead they can pass them on to passengers with minimal impact on their businesses. This US government-funded report says they could make windfall profits, so T&E are not sympathetic to their cries that the ETS will cost them billions.
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The CAA (owned by airlines) produces advice to government to increase capacity in the south east
TThe CAA has now produced the third of its three "Insight Papers" for the DfT. It hopes these will influence the formation of new UK aviation policy, on which a public consultation will start in March. The CAA is not a neutral government agency; its membership is entirely airlines and air travel companies, and all its funding comes from them. It is therefore entirely biased in favour of aviation growth. The latest Insight Note, entitled "Aviation Policy for the Future" wants more airport capacity in the south east. It also wants policies to keep the price of flying cheap, and stresses the importance of aviation growth to the UK's economic prosperity, while keeping remarkably silent on the impact of air travel in taking UK money out of the country. It includes strange suggestions on noise like introducing a cap and trade system, and increasing the degree of community trust in airports.
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HS2 high-speed rail project gets green light
Justine Greening has given the go ahead for the rail link from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, on 10th January. It will cost at least £32bn. This is the first phase of the route on which high-speed trains will start running in 2026 and this first phase should be only the foundation of a future network. Opponents question the huge expenditure for time savings of just half an hour between London and Birmingham. Between 2026 and 2032 other northern cities (Manchester, Leeds, will get their high speed links from the Y shaped network. There will be huge opposition and anger in constituencies through which HS2 would pass, which will face the prospect of years of construction for no direct local benefit. Legislation to enable the building of HS2 would go through Parliament in 2013.
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Small cracks on ribs of A380 wings raise safety concerns
Some tiny cracks have been found on ?5 A380 planes.The cracks were first found on the Qantas A380 that suffered an uncontained engine failure with one of its four Trent 900 engines two years ago. Airbus confirms the cracking on “some non-critical wing rib-skin attachments on a limited number of A380 aircraft.” Airbus says that safe operations of the fleet are not affected and no flight limitations are being put on the A380. It said cracks have been repaired, but it would not detail how the fix is made. Others are concerned about safety and whether the cracks should be repaired quickly and not wait for 4 yearly inspections.
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Fears of trade war after Chinese airlines ‘refuse’ to pay ETS
While the system was introduced this month, airlines won’t have to start paying the tax until the first quarter of 2013 giving them time to take responsive action. The China Air Transport Association says Chinese airlines will not impose surcharges on customers relating to the emissions tax. The EU legally has the option of enforcing fines of €100 for each tonne of CO2 emitted for which airlines have not surrendered a carbon allowance. The Assoc of Asia Pacific Airlines said various governments around the world opposed to the EU ETS are now evaluating what sanctions can be taken against the EU with the likelihood of a trade war ahead, which would not achieve any environmental benefit. Delta has already increased its fares to Europe by €3. Cathay said the ETS would add about $6.44 to a ticket between Hong Kong and Europe.
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Tests are underway on electric motors so planes can taxi without engine power
Honeywell and Safran are two companies working on a new system by which planes use their auxiliary power unit to power motors in the main wheels without more use of the engines. Planes use a great deal of fuel while taxiing, as this is not an efficient mode for the engines, designed for more full power. A significant % of total fuel is used on the ground - perhaps 3% depending on the flight. The team is currently focused on prototyping and component level testing prior to targeted system installation and ground testing in 2013.
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Jet fuel price rose significantly during 2011. Oil likely to increase in price in 2012.
The price of oil rose around 10 - 15% during 2011, depending which sort of oil is considered. IATA says the price of jet fuel rose by about 39% over the year, giving the average price of jet fuel in 2010 as $91.4 / barrel and the price in 2011 as $ 127.5. Some oil analysts think the price of oil will rise in 2012, even though the western economies remain in recession. Maybe as much as another $15 - 20 per barrel by next December. Demand from the emerging economies is likely to keep the price high. Crude oil is becoming more expensive to extract and this will add a premium to the oil we use in the future.