What steps is the aviation industry taking to play its part reducing its contribution to climate change and also pollution generally, including noise?
A third runway and mixed mode at Heathrow will reduce the need for stacking of aircraft and holding on the ground, therefore eliminating 330,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. British Airways for example, has halved its noise impact at Heathrow and Gatwick since 1998 through investment in quieter aircraft and pioneering operational procedures such as continuous descent approaches. Noise reduction was a crucial factor in the selection by airlines including Virgin and BA to purchase quieter longhaul aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The UK aviation industry is committed to playing its part and is taking leading role in Europe to ensure that carbon offset trading will work.
