Today, FAA issued a policy statement outlining its environmental and energy policy for U.S. civil aviation. Its statement affirms that the U.S. intends to be a global leader in the research, development, and implementation of technological, operational and policy initiatives that address transportation and environmental needs.
FAA identified five distinct policy goal areas:
· Noise. FAA’s goal is to reduce the number of people exposed to significant noise around U.S. airports and provide further measures to protect public and welfare and national resources. While acknowledging that the number of people exposed to significant aircraft noise has dropped by 90 percent since 1975, FAA states that noise is the number one public concern and noise concerns continue to present the principal obstacle to expanding airport and airspace capacity.
· Air Quality. FAA proposes to reduce significant air quality health and welfare impacts that are attributable to aviation, notwithstanding growth in aviation. Its focus for commercial aviation and airports is to reduce emissions of Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter, Sulfur Dioxide, and Hydrocarbons. Additionally, it identifies lead fuel used in general aviation as an important issue.
· Climate. FAA’s goal is to limit the impact of aircraft carbon dioxide emissions on the global climate by achieving carbon neutral growth by 2020 compared to 2005, with a net reduction of aviation emissions by 2050. The statement noted that aircraft presently supply three percent of national and worldwide carbon dioxide emissions, which is expected to grow to five percent unless reduction measures are implemented.
· Energy. FAA intends to improve National Airspace System energy efficiency by a minimum of two percent per year and develop and deploy alternative jet fuels for commercial aviation. Planned modernization through NextGen is expected to improve efficiency by reducing delays and allowing more direct routings. In regards to the second measure, almost 100% of aviation fuel is petroleum-based – raising issues of energy supply, security, and emissions. FAA recognizes that there is a strong interest in “drop-in” alternative fuels that require no changes to existing engines, aircraft, ground infrastructure, and supply equipment.
· Water Quality. FAA’s goal is to limit adverse aviation discharges to U.S. waters and reduce aviation’s adverse contributions to water quality. The policy identifies airport runoff, storm water discharges, deicing activities, and fueling and maintenance procedures as adversely affecting water quality and notes that it is important for aviation to continue to minimize adverse water discharges.
The policy sets forth two guiding principles to achieving its policy goals: (1) limiting and reducing the environmental impact of future aviation activity to levels that protect the public health and welfare; and (2) ensuring energy availability and sustainability. For each of these high-level policy goals, FAA intends to develop specific quantitative and actionable performance targets with periodic review based on scientific knowledge, changing environmental protection and energy needs, and improving technological and operational capabilities.
To confront the environmental and energy challenges and accomplish its goals, the Policy Statement acknowledges that multiple solutions are required and outlined five approaches: (1) improved scientific knowledge and integrated modeling; (2) air traffic management; (3) new aircraft technologies; (4) sustainable alternative aviation; and (5) policies, environmental stands, and market-based measures. FAA also acknowledged that a successful future air transportation system will be the result of shared collaboration between government and the aviation industry. Finally, FAA recognized that the national aviation system must integrate with the international system and therefore must be harmonized through ICAO.
We will continue to track activity related to the Policy Statement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.