How the Airline Industry Became Greener
Air travel may be the most convenient, easiest and fastest way to travel but it is as guilty as the rest of the land and water-bound forms of transportation when it comes to its carbon footprint. We might say that the airlines are the menace in the sky for environmentalists – a necessary evil, if you will. Fortunately, many measures are being undertaken to make the airline industry greener. These measures range from the use of alternate sources of fuel to changes in aircraft design both on the exteriors and the interiors. Hopefully, many of these changes will take effect in this lifetime.
First on the list is the use of biofuels in airplanes as well as on vehicles used in ground support. This is good news especially when the rising costs of conventional fuels are taken into consideration, not to mention their enormous carbon footprints from the oil fields into the airplane tanks. Even related products like the de-icing and anti-icing fluids are now being derived from natural non-petroleum sources like corn and sugar. Although there is still a long way to go before we can see biofuel pumped into all airplanes, one small step towards this goal is one step in the right direction for a greener airline industry.
Other sources of energy are also being considered particularly in the fields of nuclear and solar power. Since these are almost inexhaustible, the need to discover new oilfields can be done away with. Plus, these are the cleanest sources of energy you can find on Earth, which means that it is almost free in cost both to the pockets and to the planet.
Lest you think that solar and nuclear powered airplanes are fodder for science fiction authors and their avid readers, think again. The military has developed nuclear-powered but unmanned air vehicles while other organizations are delving deeper into hybrid air vehicles using a combination of solar and hydrogen technologies. But fuels are only one part of the equation in making the airline industry a greener one. Airplanes are being designed with the birds’ physiology in mind such that a blended wing body ala Mother Nature’s sky denizens are in the pipeline. Also, the structure is lighter in weight and narrower in body sans the large vertical tail-fin, all in the interest of improving fuel efficiency.
Since research on birds reveal that their routes change constantly and, surprisingly, conserve on energy, air traffic agencies are also exploring the possibility of providing for new energy-efficient routes. Although it may take time before this becomes a reality considering the complexity of air travel, it is good news for the eco-conscious passengers. Even the manufacturers of airplane engines are getting in on the act. Green engines are being designed with non-toxic, recyclable and recoverable materials and components, in addition to greener manufacturing processes.
As for the interiors of the plane itself, recycled materials are being used on the seats, carpets and other components. Passengers need not worry about lesser comfort in business class as airlines still adhere to strict guidelines on this matter. Indeed, we may yet see an airline industry that is as green as can be. Or as blue as the sky it calls its road.
