date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 18:05:14 -0000 from: "Prof B.E. Launder" subject: (Fwd) Re: INQUIRY INTO "THE FUTURE OF AVIATION" From: Richard to: M.hulme@uea.ac.uk, n.jenkins@umist.ac.uk, h.j.schellnhuber@uea.ac.uk, simon.shackley@umist.ac.uk 0100,0100,0100The Royal Academy of Engineering requested my input on "The future of Aviation". I provided the response that follows. I realize that most of it wasn't really in the area or from the point of view they were seeking input but I don't think that matters. Brian ------- Forwarded message follows ------- From: 0000,0000,8000Prof B.E. Launder < To: 0000,0000,8000"Hearn Sylvia (Miss)" < Subject: 0000,0000,8000Re: INQUIRY INTO "THE FUTURE OF AVIATION" From: Richard Ploszek Copies to: 0000,0000,8000Response@raeng.co.uk Send reply to: 0000,0000,8000brian.launder@umist.ac.uk Date sent: 0000,0000,8000Tue, 11 Mar 2003 15:35:16 -0000 Dear Mr Ploszek: I'm replying in my role as regional director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. My concern is here exclusively concerned with reducing the CO2 emission from aircraft. While at present the proportion of CO2 associated directly with aircraft movement is small, because air traffic is growing and there is at least a vision for reducing CO2 from automobiles, it is likely that releases from aircraft will become a substantial contributor in the next decade if nothing is done. * A major "driver" of the present pattern of evolution is that there is no tax levied on aviation fuel. This is a problem that MUST be tackled, desirably at a world level but at least within a European framework. * Moreover, if the Government introduces a carbon tax, that should also be applied to aircraft movements. [Again international agreements are required] * The above development would provide a stimulus to the development of fail-safe designs for hydrogen-fuelled aircraft. * It seems to me that more should be done to develop modes of aerial transport that consumed much less fuel per passenger mile than existing schemes (whether or not one is adopting hydrogen as a fuel). Perhaps there is scope for the return of the airship ...or perhaps some hybrid, intermediate version between an airship and a conventional aeroplane. Of course, this would also greatly reduce the problem from the other main pollutant source with aircraft: noise! No long runways would be needed either. * In connection with the above, with leisure transport, especially high speed is not of great advantage since at present, for European flights, actual flying time is less than (often MUCH less than) one-fifth of the total journey time from home to hotel. So a comfortable airship flight at just 400km/hr might be very attractive, especially if the fuel savings were properly factored into the ticket price. * Although the photographs released of the NASA solar- powered aircraft are both intriguing and impressive, it seems likely that the commercial implementaion of such a scheme is a long way off. Nevertheless, it's surely a goal to be pursued. * Finally, more need to be done to ELIMINATE short internal flights in this country by providing highspeed rail links, including direct links between airport terminals. > House of Commons Transport Select Committee > Inquiry into "The Future of Aviation" > > The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has been holding an inquiry > into "The Future of Aviation" since November last year, the terms of > reference for which can be found at > www.parliament.uk/parliament_committees/transport_committee/tc 221102.cmf via > the Parliament website. > The Committee has decided that it should deal with the problem of aircraft > noise and environmental pollution separately from the mainstream of the > inquiry and has asked The Academy to submit evidence on the subject. > In particular, the Committee would like to hear what Fellows consider the > future trends in aircraft design are and how these might impact on forecasts > of environmental damage. This is in particular reference to noise on > take-off and approach, and fuel consumption. It would be helpful if you > could indicate what you believe the key drivers are for improvements and > whether these conflict with commercial goals. The Committee would also be > interested on your views on likely timescales for new technologies to be > introduced and to achieve significant market penetration. Local air quality > around airports is also a consideration and the Committee would also be > interested to hear you views on this subject. > I would be pleased to receive your comments by Friday 28th March, or sooner > if possible via e-mail to responses@raeng.co.uk. Should you be unable to > respond, for whatever reason, I would like to thank you for considering this > request. > > Richard Ploszek > Assistant Manager, Enginering Policy 0100,0100,0100------- End of forwarded message ------- Professor B. E. Launder, FRS, FREng MAME Department, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK Telephone: 0161-200-3701 Fax : 0161-200-3723