Centre for Aviation, Transport and Environment

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Centre for Aviation, Transport and the Environment
FocusThe Environmental Impacts of Aviation Industry
DirectorProf David Lee
Faculty of Science and Engineering
LocationJohn Dalton Building
Manchester Metropolitan University
Foundation Year1984
www.cate.mmu.ac.uk

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.

Contents

Area of research

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.

Main areas of expertise

Sustainability and the air transport industry

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.

Global climate change

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.

Noise and community impacts

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.

Local air quality

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.

List of organizations CATE has worked with

Global

European

National

Research partners

Research laboratories

Academia

Airports

Airlines

Air Traffic Management

Manufacturers

UK Government

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Aviation Administration</span> United States Government agency dedicated to civil aviation matters

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic management, certification of personnel and aircraft, setting standards for airports, and protection of U.S. assets during the launch or re-entry of commercial space vehicles. Powers over neighboring international waters were delegated to the FAA by authority of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft noise pollution</span>

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:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change mitigation</span> Actions to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change

Climate change mitigation is action to limit climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases or removing those gases from the atmosphere. The recent rise in global average temperature is mostly caused by emissions from fossil fuels burning. Mitigation can reduce emissions by transitioning to sustainable energy sources, conserving energy, and increasing efficiency. In addition, CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere by enlarging forests, restoring wetlands and using other natural and technical processes, which are grouped together under the term of carbon sequestration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mode of transport</span> Different types of transportation such as air, water, and land transport

Mode of transport is a term used to distinguish between different ways of transportation or transporting people or goods. The different modes of transport are air, water, and land transport, which includes rails or railways, road and off-road transport. Other modes also exist, including pipelines, cable transport, and space transport. Human-powered transport and animal-powered transport are sometimes regarded as their own mode, but never fall into the other categories. In general, transportation is used for moving of people, animals, and other goods from one place to another. Means of transport, on the other hand, refers to the transport facilities used to carry people or cargo according to the chosen mode. Each mode of transport has a fundamentally different technological solution, and some require a separate environment. Each mode has its own infrastructure, vehicles, transport operators and operations.

The Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) is the principal UK non-profit making organisation concerned with the environmental effects of aviation. These range from aviation noise issues associated with small airstrips or helipads to the contribution of airline emissions to global warming and climate change. The AEF is widely quoted in international media as a source of research and analysis on issues related to aviation and the environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental effects of aviation</span> Effect of emissions from aircraft engines

Like other emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion, aircraft engines produce gases, noise, and particulates, raising environmental concerns over their global effects and their effects on local air quality. Jet airliners contribute to climate change by emitting carbon dioxide, the best understood greenhouse gas, and, with less scientific understanding, nitrogen oxides, contrails and particulates. Their radiative forcing is estimated at 1.3–1.4 that of CO2 alone, excluding induced cirrus cloud with a very low level of scientific understanding. In 2018, global commercial operations generated 2.4% of all CO2 emissions.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air transport in the United Kingdom</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental effects of aviation in the United Kingdom</span>

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.

AirportWatch is an environmental group which campaigns for sustainable air transport through reduction or redistribution of demand, determined by either timing or location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviation biofuel</span> Sustainable fuel used to power aircraft

An aviation biofuel or bio-jet fuel or bio-aviation fuel (BAF) is a biofuel used to power aircraft and is said to be a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The International Air Transport Association (IATA) considers it a key element to reducing the carbon footprint within the environmental impact of aviation. Aviation biofuel could help decarbonize medium- and long-haul air travel generating most emissions, and could extend the life of older aircraft types by lowering their carbon footprint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Transport Action Group</span>

The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) is a coalition of aviation industry experts focusing on sustainable development issues. Its board of directors is composed of senior representatives from trade associations like Airports Council International, Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, International Air Transport Association, Airlines for America and Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, plus aircraft manufacturers like Airbus, ATR, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, CFM International, Embraer, Honeywell Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce plc and Safran.

The expansion of Heathrow Airport is a series of proposals to add to the runways at London's busiest airport beyond its two long runways which are intensively used to serve four terminals and a large cargo operation. The plans are those presented by Heathrow Airport Holdings and an independent proposal by Heathrow Hub with the main object of increasing capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft design process</span> Establishing the configuration and plans for a new aeroplane

The aircraft design process is a loosely defined method used to balance many competing and demanding requirements to produce an aircraft that is strong, lightweight, economical and can carry an adequate payload while being sufficiently reliable to safely fly for the design life of the aircraft. Similar to, but more exacting than, the usual engineering design process, the technique is highly iterative, involving high level configuration tradeoffs, a mixture of analysis and testing and the detailed examination of the adequacy of every part of the structure. For some types of aircraft, the design process is regulated by civil airworthiness authorities.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil aviation in India</span>

Civil aviation in India, the world's third-largest civil aviation market as of 2020, traces its origin back to 1911, when the first commercial civil aviation flight took off from a polo ground in Allahabad carrying mail across the Yamuna river to Naini.

The International Board for Research into Aircraft Crash Events (IBRACE) was founded on 21 November 2016 by a group of subject-matter experts in aviation, engineering, clinical medicine, and human factors. These experts are associated with organizations that include the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, USA (CAMI); Cranfield University, England; GRM Consulting Ltd., England; Spire Liverpool Hospital, England; TÜV Rheinland, Germany; the University of Calgary, Canada; the University of Nottingham, England; and Wonkwang University, Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation</span> Voluntary ICAO greenhouse gas emissions scheme

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Larkin</span> British climate scientist

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.

References