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EUROCONTROL > Research Development > EEC > Research methods > Environment 

ATM Environment Research - A Global Challenge for Air Traffic Management
The environmental impact of aviation represents formidable social and political challenges for air transport. As a consequence, the industry faces the prospect of environmentally motivated taxes and legislation in an era when the cost of kerosene (see the IATA fuel price monitor) is altering the economic realities of civil aviation.

The air transport industry must respond to these challenges: by optimising performance, improving fuel efficiency, and - crucially for the future development of the industry - reducing the environmental impact of aviation, while maintaining safety.
Air traffic management (ATM) solutions already exist or will become available in the mid-term, mainly through the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme, for reducing the fleet-wide environmental impact of aviation.

The spectrum of existing and emerging innovative ATM solutions encompasses:
  HTML Collaborative decision making (CDM)
  HTML Airborne separation assistance systems (ASAS)
  HTML Continuous descent approach (CDA)
  HTML Precision RNAV (P-RNAV) procedures
  HTML Arrival and departure management systems (AMAN/DMAN)
among other ATM operational methods, procedures, and technologies supporting evolving European network management advantages.

ckick image to watch video in new browser window 
Now watch the ATM Environment Research video.

Clicking on the image (left) will play the Flash video, as yet without a soundtrack, in a new browser window.

EUROCONTROL Strategy for Environmental Impact Assessment

EUROCONTROL is formalising an environmental impact assessment process, which aims to form a key component of the validation process of the SESAR programme development and deployment phases, while supporting European environmental management systems.

The EC Directive 2001/42/12 already provides the framework for strategic environmental assessment.
  HTML EC Directive 2001/42/12
  HTML The EC legal context
The supporting methodological framework will be provided by:
  HTML SESAR
  HTML CAATS 2
  HTML Episode 3
  HTML E-OCVM
  HTML ICAO-CAEP (Environment)
  HTML ECAC-ANCAT
EUROCONTROL's objective for ATM environment research is to meet a worldwide demand for relevant knowledge and rigorous assessment methods and tools as enablers for validation of ATM options for the environment.

Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment

EUROCONTROL has already developed, improved - and continues to propose - models, methods, and databases for conducting environmental impact assessments of ATM operational changes and options at both the global level for aviation emissions and the local level for aircraft noise near airports, local air quality, and miscellaneous impacts (such as aircraft/airport waste, bird strikes, and resource depletion).

click to read more about environmental impact assessment
Source: (edited) CAATS 2.
Scope of relevant environmental impact assessments.
  ATM Environment Research - Aviation Impact Assessment Methods

Related Links - Aviation and the Environment

  HTML UNIPCC Aviation and the global atmosphere
  HTML Aviation Environment Federation (AEF)
  HTML Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative
  HTML Environmentally Responsible Air Transport (ERAT)
  HTML ECATS - Environment Compatible Air Transport System

ATM Environment Research presentations

Environmental benefits from improved operational measures

 
[PDF download, 830 kB]  
Presented at the ICAO Colloquium on Aviation Emissions, 14-16 May, 2007.

Guido Kerkhofs
Director, ATM Programmes
EUROCONTROL

Contacts

Ted Elliff
Aviation Environmental Research Manager
Email: 
 
  Author:
Last validation: 20/06/2008