General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
Icelandic volcano ash could enter UK airspace, forecasters warn
Date added: 22 May, 2011
Ash from an erupting Icelandic volcano that has already grounded planes locally
could enter UK airspace by Tuesday. The Grimsvotn volcano began erupting on Sunday, causing flights to be cancelled
at Keflavik airport after it sent a plume of ash etc 12 miles into the air. However experts said the eruption was unlikely to have the dramatic impact that the Eyjafjallajökull volcano had in April 2010, when flights were cancelled over the UK for 6 days.
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EC should make tax fairer by extending VAT to air travel
Date added: 18 May, 2011
The Aviation Environment Federation, and Transport & Environment have submitted
comments on the EC consultation on changes to VAT. Aviation pays no VAT and both
organisations argue there is no reason why the industry should remain exempt. A major strand running through the consultation is the desirability of charging
VAT on the widest possible range of goods and services. The current system distorts
the economy and creates an artificial demand for air travel.
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APD changes will increase emissions and increase the number of long haul flights, says easyjet
Date added: 18 May, 2011
EasyJet claims changes to APD will increase annual CO2 emissions. A report compiled by Frontier Economics and commissioned by easyJet, says the
changes will reduce UK passenger numbers by 3 million per year ; increase CO2 emissions by
up to 360,000 tonnes per year; reduce tourist spending in the UK by £475m a year; reduce UK GDP by £2.6 billion
per year; lead to the loss of up to 77,000 jobs; and encourage more long haul flights.
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Amid greenwashing claims, US environmental groups tell their major airlines to drop opposition to EU ETS
Date added: 17 May, 2011
Six major US groups have sharply criticised 3 leading US airlines over lobbying
and legal efforts to prevent their inclusion in ETS from next year while simultaneously
bragging about their environmental performance. They have written to the CEOs
to denounce the airlines for bringing the suit at the European Court of Justice,
and say new technological advance to cut CO2 is needed, not litigation. Adverts
from the green groups, for the in flight magazines, have just rejected.
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Socio-economic class of UK passengers has not changed over time
Date added: 13 May, 2011
Work by Jeremy Birch, from Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign, shows clearly
that the fraction of passengers in each socio-economic group has stayed almost
constant since 1996, and there certainly has not been an increase in the fraction
of poorer people flying. As the total number flying has increased, this means
that the poorer people do fly more than before, but with no progressive element.
Jeremy's study used CAA data from 1996 onwards.
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Idling airplanes produce more harmful pollution than previously thought
Date added: 12 May, 2011
Researchers have shown that the emissions produced by aircraft idling on the
ground contain tiny oil droplets, that when exposed to sunlight, undergo a chemical
reaction that causes them to solidify into tiny particles that can infiltrate
the lungs and eventually the brain of those living or working near airports. Little
has been done to reduce the amounts spewed into the environment, or study the
effect of temperature or interactions of pollutants with UV radiation or other
substances.
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Chinese airlines step up anti-ETS campaign
Date added: 9 May, 2011
China’s airlines are stepping up their campaign to be excluded from the EU ETS
and threatening to ask their government to impose huge costs on European carriers. The China ATA has released a statement saying the forced inclusion of Chinese
airlines from 1.1.2012 is a violation of international law and hampers the development
of the aviation industry in poor countries. It demands postponement, adjustment
of the rules or exclusion of Chinese airlines.
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Nuclear power stations: Another safety exemption for aviation?
Date added: 7 May, 2011
Europe’s nuclear power plants would not have to prove their ability to withstand
the force of an aircraft crash under stress tests being drafted by regulators.
The FT has reported that the possibility of a plane collision was the most glaring omission among scenarios
laid out in a proposal for the stress tests, the centrepiece of the EU's plan
to ensure the safety of its 143 nuclear plants after Fukushima. Natural disasters
have to be taken account of.
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British Airways to launch first 2012 Olympic ads to promote its £40m sponsorship
Date added: 6 May, 2011
BA is to launch its first ads to promote its £40m sponsorship of the London 2012
Olympics with one of the airline's biggest campaigns, which will run for more
than a year – but not on TV. BA signed a £40m deal in 2008 to become a tier one sponsor and official airline
of London 2012. Its first 2012 Olympics campaign, which breaks on Thursday, will run in two distinct
parts and use national print media and online advertising. There will be virals and a lot more.
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European Commission signs Memorandum of Cooperation with ICAO
Date added: 5 May, 2011
European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas and the Hungarian State Secretary
for Infrastructure Pál Völner, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation providing a framework for enhanced cooperation and
stronger EU involvement with ICAO. Kallas said both ICAO and Europe will benefit. It will allow EU to contribute to the preparatory work for policy and standard setting
in ICAO in safety, security, environment and air traffic management
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