Normal CO2 Emissions Cut In Half
Air France and Airbus have completed the world’s greenest
commercial flight by combining the latest fuel and air traffic
management technologies. The flight from Toulouse-Blagnac to
Paris-Orly using an Airbus A321 has been able to demonstrate the
cutting in half of CO2 emitted compared to a regular flight.
The commercial flight, AF6129, for the first time combined the
use of bio-fuels (50 per cent in each engine), optimized air
traffic management (ATM) and efficient Continuous Descent Approach
(CDA) to minimise CO2 emissions. Combining these technologies
helped half the overall CO2 emissions to 54 grams per passenger and
kilometer. This is equivalent to a fuel efficiency of 2.2 litres of
fuel per passenger and 100 Kilometres.
“We are proud of the success achieved by this innovative
project, which is a synthesis of our many initiatives in the area
of sustainable development. This fully-optimised green flight is
another proof of Air France’s commitment to combine air
transport growth with controlled CO2 emissions.” said
Bertrand Lebel, Air France Executive Vice President Organisation
and Corporate Social Responsability.
“This flight is the perfect example of Airbus global
approach towards continuously reducing aviation’s CO2
footprint” said Andrea Debbane, Airbus Head Environmental
Affairs. “This is not just a bio-fuel flight but the first
flight that really puts into practice elements in the Airbus
roadmap: bio-fuels, optimised ATM, green navigation.”
Bio-fuel is one solution for reducing overall CO2 emissions.
Airbus’ alternative fuel strategy is to speed up its
commercialisation through sustainable bio-fuel value chains. Thanks
to several test flights and collaboration with the fuels standards
bodies (ASTM and DefStan), today the use of 50 per cent bio-fuel
blends are authorised in commercial flights.
A more efficient ATM system could also help reduce the amount of
fuel burned by aircraft and therefore the CO2 emitted. Airbus
strongly supports the streamlining of ATM and has launched a new
subsidiary company, called “Airbus ProSky”, 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 10 percent less aircraft
fuel consumption, as well as significant reductions in CO2 and
noise emissions.
CDA is becoming more widespread as a way to reduce fuel burn.
During a CDA procedure, the aircraft descends continuously,
avoiding level flight prior to the final approach and requires
significantly less engine thrust and therefore less fuel burn.