Effectiveness and Economics of Carbon Foot-Print Reduction in Aviation: An Analysis of Measures Adopted by the Sri Lankan Airlines

摘要

The results of the research reveal that among the operational methods examined implementation of RNAV/PBN navigational methods and the use of ETOPS facility have provided the airline with a significant fuel saving over other measures. It is further evident that ICAO Journal, 2006 states RNAV/PBN as one of the most efficient air traffic management method which provide with more accurate, balanced and faster results whilst maintaining high safety standards for environmental issues faced by the industry. This study also has found that LIDO flight planning method, though identified among green strategies by the airline, has been unsuccessful in significantly economising fuel. Airline has implemented the new flight planning system in year 2013 and the system was functioning at its initial stage. Airline has been able to streamline its workflow through the options in the new system providing a wide array of functions the flight operations personnel. Yet the significant fuel saving through LIDO could not be identified through the analysis. Another one of the operational measures that the airline was able to successfully implement with the airlines' fleet been expended was ETOPS operations. Through the analysis it is evident that implementation of ETOPS alone, the airline has been able to save between 48 to 69 million litres of fuel over the past four and a half years, corresponding to a CO_2 emission reduction of approximately 122481 to 174345 tonnes of CO_2. It is evident that through implementation of operational measures airline has been able to achieve a significant fuel saving thus resulting in a reduction of its carbon foot print. Also it is important to consider that these measures taken by the airline are voluntary measures. Considering the fuel saving achieved by the airline it is imperative to provide more emphasis on how best the airline can improve on measures such as use of RNAV/PBN to airports that are equipped with the facility. SriLankan Airlines as the national carrier of Sri Lanka operates its network through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). Currently the airport is not equipped with the facility of RNAV/PBN. It is vital that airport operator and the aeronautical service provider to consider its' implementation of improved navigational methods considering the fuel saving that all airlines could achieve when operating to BIA. Further selecting aircraft which are best suited for the mission considering operational advantages such as ETOPS when conducting its flight planning exercise will further enable the airline to magnify its fuel saving. Emphasizing on the measures which provides the airline with a fuel saving will result in significant reduction of carbon foot-print enabling the national carrier to fulfill its objective of moving towards a green airline.