Centre for Aviation, Transport and the Environment | |
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Focus | The Environmental Impacts of Aviation Industry |
Director | Prof David Lee |
Faculty of Science and Engineering | |
Location | John Dalton Building |
Manchester Metropolitan University | |
Foundation Year | 1984 |
www | |
Manchester Metropolitan University's Centre for Aviation, Transport and the Environment (CATE) is an international research centre based at the Dalton Research Institute specialising in the environmental impacts of the aviation industry.
CATE was established to address the challenges of sustainable aviation development and the environmental capacity of the air transport system though research and knowledge transfer. CATE's researchers work closely with regulatory bodies, which include the International Civil Aviation Organization, the European Commission, the UK Government and the US FAA;aviation sectors such as the airports, airlines and air traffic management organisations; aerospace and aircraft engine manufacturers; academics, research laboratories and NGOs.
CATE's research underpins policy formulation and supports technological development in helping the stakeholders minimise the environmental impacts of aviation to achieve long-term sustainable growth.
This area of work involves the application of sustainability theory to the air transport industry, the role of aviation in supporting social and economic development, the associated environmental impacts, the need to compensate for growth through the development of new infrastructure, technologies, operations and business models.
The research investigates the impact of airplane emissions upon the climate. Led by Professor David Lee, this research group uses a range of modelling tools to calculate global aviation emissions and scenarios, contrail coverage and simplified climate response models of aviation-specific effects. With the evidence stemming from this research, the group provides advice and support on aviation related climate change issues for UK Government Departments and to fora such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The importance of CATE's work in this field is reflected by the contribution of four CATE researchers to the IPCC's seminal 1999 report Aviation and the Global Atmosphere. The IPCC was jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, and the contribution to the IPCC of many scientists was acknowledged.
Led by Professor Callum Thomas and Dr Paul Hooper, this research group addresses the environmental and community impacts of airports and airline operations within the vicinity of airports. The research programme focuses on issues of regulatory limits, measurement, management and impact of noise on local residents as well as the processes of stakeholder engagement and understanding community attitudes to airport growth. The UK Governments's night flying policy was underpinned by research carried out by CATE staff (Dr. Ken Hume). Manchester Airport's noise control programme and community relations programmes were developed with CATE researchers. More recently, CATE has been commissioned by the NI Government to produce a 'good practice guide' on the measurement and management or aircraft noise for Northern Ireland Airports.
This group focuses on the way airports and airlines deal with air quality issues. CATE provides expertise in air quality modelling and monitoring and provide advice on how emissions can be managed and reduced. The research group, led by Professor David Raper investigates the fundamental processes that control dispersion of pollutants around airports. This group researches the impact of wing tip induced vortices on dispersion of aircraft engine exhaust fumes and led one of three Air Quality Panels for Department for Transport while contributing to another, to review the impact of aircraft emissions on air quality around Heathrow Airport.
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Aircraft noise pollution refers to noise produced by aircraft in flight that has been associated with several negative stress-mediated health effects, from sleep disorders to cardiovascular ones. Governments have enacted extensive controls that apply to aircraft designers, manufacturers, and operators, resulting in improved procedures and cuts in pollution.
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Articles related to aviation include:
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The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is an ongoing United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) project to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS). The FAA began work on NextGen improvements in 2007 and plans to finish the final implementation segment by 2030. The goals of the modernization include using new technologies and procedures to increase the safety, efficiency, capacity, access, flexibility, predictability, and resilience of the NAS while reducing the environmental impact of aviation.
Air transport in the United Kingdom is the commercial carriage of passengers, freight and mail by aircraft, both within the United Kingdom (UK) and between the UK and the rest of the world. In the past 25 years the industry has seen continuous growth, and the demand for passenger air travel in particular is forecast to increase from the current level of 236 million passengers to 465 million in 2030. One airport, Heathrow Airport, is amongst the top ten busiest airports in the world. More than half of all passengers travelling by air in the UK currently travel via the six London area airports. Outside London, Manchester Airport is by far the largest and busiest of the remaining airports, acting as a hub for the 20 million or so people who live within a two-hour drive. Regional airports have experienced the most growth in recent years, due to the success of low-cost carrier airlines over the last decade.
The environmental effects of aviation in the United Kingdom are increasing due to the increasing demand for air travel in the country. In the past 25 years the UK air transport industry has seen sustained growth, and the demand for passenger air travel in particular is forecast to increase more than twofold, to 465 million passengers, by 2030. Two airports; London Heathrow and London Gatwick, are amongst the top ten busiest airports in the world for international passenger traffic. Whilst more than half of all passengers travelling by air in the UK currently travel via the five London area airports, regional airports have experienced the most growth in recent years, due to the success of 'no-frills' airlines over the last decade.
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Aviation engineering is a branch of engineering which deals with airspace development, airport design, aircraft navigation technologies, and aerodrome planning. It also involves the formulation of public policy, regulations, aviation laws pertaining to airspace, airlines, airports, aerodromes and the conduct of air services agreements through treaty.
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The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a carbon offset and carbon reduction scheme to lower CO2 emissions for international flights, to curb the aviation impact on climate change.
Alice Larkin is Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester and a Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy. She works on carbon budgets and cumulative emissions. She leads the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) consortium project Stepping Up Nexus.