Aviation Going Greener

Unlike vehicles, aircrafts do not require optimization for efficiency because they are able to refuel often. Fuel is costly, heavy and takes up a large amount of storage room. Fuels weight limits the range of the aircraft and is needed to be stored in tanks, this affects the wing size and payload to be carried. On the other hand, the aviation industry is doing the most it can to limit its environmental impact.

Every new generation of aircrafts has double-digit fuel efficiency developments, even up to 25% more efficient than the one it replaced. This results in today’s modern aircraft producing over 70% less CO2 than the first ever jet in 1950.

Upcoming modern technologies have the potential to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from aircrafts, and resolutions that are currently being implemented also promise other savings. Small savings here and there are also able to offer benefits in the end.

Before the Wright Brothers, very little people believed powered flight was probable. The innovation has continued and is driving the industry’s response to its environmental tests. Here are a few examples:

• Aviation has been effective in separating emissions growth and actual growth. Growth of traffic is increasing around 5% annually, while CO2 emissions are increasing around 3%.
• Newer aircrafts, such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, consumes less than three litres per 100 passenger kilometers. This is the use of fuel which compares positively to that of vehicles, although aircrafts have a much further distance to travel, faster.
• The upcoming generation of aircrafts that are to come off the production line will offer more improvements for fuel burn and emissions.

In today’s times, engineers and researchers are creating incremental improvements that propose large savings. Manufacturers are progressively using light-weight materials in order to build aircrafts and their components. Engines are also manufactured using highly advanced materials and procedures.

Technology on modern aircrafts are able to either improve fuel burn or to reduce combustion use. Combined, these two elements create a new aircraft with a decreased environmental impact.

Here at Century Avionics, we believe in excellence in avionics and pride ourselves in our agile nature and ability to adapt to local and global changes. We specialise in general avionics sales, installations, maintenance, support and modifications through our design organisation for certified and non-certified aircraft. For more information, contact us or enquire online for more information!