As the Venezuelan pilot tells us Romulo Lander Fonseca From the United States, airplanes have come a long way since the first flight in 1903. This has been an industry that brought progress and advancement to humanity, but as with many aspects of our lives, we can still do more to improve them. In particular, airplanes make a significant contribution to climate change and global warming. But what to do? Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the effects of air travel on the environment. This article will explore some of those measures.
Airplanes are one of the main means of transportation worldwide, with more than 100,000 daily flights around the world. Due to its huge environmental impact, initiatives have been launched to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. However, much remains to be done.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that air transport will account for a third of all CO₂ emissions from aircraft in 2050.
The commercial aviation industry is growing rapidly, what does this mean for the environment?
The commercial aviation industry is booming, and the environmental impact of flying is increasing. According to Rómulo Lander Fonseca, the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization originating in Chicago, United States), expects air traffic to double by 2030.
Aviation is one of the main contributors to climate change, as the industry is responsible for 2.5% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. However, carbon dioxide only accounts for a third of aviation’s total climate impact. The remaining two-thirds come from non-CO₂ emissions, such as NOx and trace ice generated by water vapor from aircraft. These emissions are even more harmful to the atmosphere than CO₂, and have a significant impact on local air quality and public health.
As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need to reduce our carbon footprint, it is essential that we also focus on reducing these other types of emissions from aviation, otherwise we will not be able to achieve our climate goals. Fortunately, there are a number of promising technologies that could help reduce the environmental impact of aviation in the next years. For example, electric aircraft are becoming more viable and have the potential to significantly reduce NOx emissions.
Additionally, new fuel additives can help reduce icing, and more efficient engines can help further reduce NOx emissions. With continued progress in these areas, it is possible to envision a future in which aviation is much cleaner and more sustainable, says the Venezuelan pilot Rómulo Lander, from the tourism investors meeting of the State of Florida in the USA.
The 5 most important technologies that could help reduce the environmental impact of aircraft
The aeronautical industry is one of the main responsible for climate change, we cannot deny it; however, the sector is working to reduce its emissions. Rómulo Lander Fonseca tells us about 5 promising technologies to help counteract the environmental impact of air transport:
1) Technology to generate synthetic jet fuel.
In the near future, we may see a new type of fuel made by using renewable energy sources. This fuel will be cheaper and cleaner than fuels currently used in aviation. The technology to generate synthetic jet fuel is still in its infancy, but it has great potential for the future. It would be cheaper than petroleum-derived jet fuel and less polluting.
According to the Venezuelan businessman, Romulo Lander Fonseca, Synthetic fuel generation technology is a technique that allows the production of hydrocarbons in small quantities and with high levels of energy efficiency. The main advantage of this technology is that it does not require large amounts of oil or natural gas like traditional hydrocarbon generation machines. This technology is based on the processing of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is a gas that is abundant in the atmosphere and can be extracted by burning organic biomass. CO₂ converts to hydrogen when heated and combines with other organic gases to create synthetic fuels.
2) Electric and hybrid propulsion system.
There are several different types of hybrid electric drive systems. One type is called a parallel hybrid system, which simultaneously uses the combustion engine and the electric motor as power sources.
Another system is the hybrid or series hybrid electric powertrain. This is a system that combines traditional fuel-powered and electrically powered motors to provide motion. The combustion engine acts as a backup propulsion system and helps start the aircraft, while the electric motor is responsible for most of the aircraft’s thrust. The batteries provide the power for the electric motor, and those batteries are kept charged by the energy produced by the internal combustion engine. This type of system greatly reduces emissions.
3) The wings design to reduce wind resistance.
There are many different types of wings, and each type has a unique purpose. It is important for designers to focus on reducing wind resistance because it is very difficult to produce thrust compared to drag.
For example, NASA and MIT are working on revolutionary wing designs to reduce wind resistance by using rigid and flexible components. These systems produce less drag and turbulence, which means these designs could be the aviation breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for.
4) Aircraft emission reduction system.
Airlines and airports are in the process of adopting emission reduction mechanisms. A new system is being implemented that will reduce airport emissions at each gate. Airlines can offset the cost with payments from airport authorities.
The pilot and businessman from Venezuela, Rómulo Lander Fonseca, explains that eco-efficient systems have been developed, with the help of technology for advanced modeling. From these developments, emission reduction systems arise, which include a device that automatically reduces the thrust of an engine, either for takeoff or landing of the plane, reducing its emissions and generating less noise. Always keeping the aircraft equipped and operating in accordance with FAA regulations.
5) Technology to increase the aircraft’s capacity without having to increase its size.
One of the biggest problems with modern aircraft is their limited capacity. To address this, engineers are developing new technology that allows capacity to be increased without increasing size.
This is necessary to accommodate growth in air travel demand without sacrificing airport capacity. While some solutions have been proposed, the problem is that so far these methods have proven to be unsustainable in the long term.
For Rómulo Lander Fonseca, there is a pressing need for airlines to focus on reducing emissions
In the past, air travel was seen as a luxury rather than something necessary for everyday life. However, today with more people traveling for work and vacations, air travel has become a necessity. Now that it’s so important, airlines need to focus on reducing their carbon emissions.
This is especially true since these emissions have been linked to global warming. Let us remember that airlines are the third most significant sector of the world economy, so it is impossible to ignore their importance and their impacts on the environment.
The emissions caused by an airline are equivalent to those of a European country. That is why it is crucial that airlines focus on reducing their emissions, since these affect the entire environment, including the air, forests and oceans.
It must be a priority for them to obtain technology to transport more people for less fuel, and achieve it efficiently: without losing quality or compromising the well-being of passengers.
Finally, for an experienced pilot like Rómulo Lander Fonseca, this can be achieved with policies that support this reality, such as the reduction of emissions, reforestation and the development of alternative technologies.