Aviation Maintenance & Environment: A Case Study of Qantas Airline

This case study investigates the environmental impact of aviation maintenance practices at Qantas Airline. It identifies key areas of impact, such as water usage, fuel consumption, and waste generation, and examines existing company policies and compliance regulations. The study evaluates the effectiveness of current environmental management practices using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. It further explores alternative environmental management approaches like the cradle-to-cradle concept and triple bottom line reporting. The study proposes new ecologically beneficial targets for electricity, water, and waste reduction and outlines tools and techniques for achieving these targets. It emphasizes the importance of communicating the significance of new protocols and measuring their effectiveness through life cycle analysis. The study concludes by highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and improvement to enhance sustainability within Qantas Airline's aviation maintenance operations. Desklib offers similar solved assignments.

Case study

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY.............................................................................................................................1
Determining the area of study, compliance regulations, current practice and policies being
adopted by the company on specified environmental issues..................................................1
Way of measuring the effectiveness of what’s currently in place..........................................2
Investigating and analysing alternative manners of managing the environmental area.........3
New ecologically beneficial targets and procedures..............................................................3
Tools and techniques for achieving new targets and disseminating information among the
group.......................................................................................................................................3
Communicating the significance of new protocols and the eventual savings to the company
and the environment...............................................................................................................4
Measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of the new practices.........................................5
Review....................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
The operation and functioning of the airlines comprise numerous activities that might
influences the environment. Subsequent to the probable influence to the local air as well as
water quality, the aircraft noise levels also impact the property levels or the quality of life of
the residents in the neighbouringsocieties. The aviation maintenance department too have a
significant amount of impact on the environment (Koblen, Szabo and Krnacova, 2019).
Considering this, the main aim of the current research study is to carry out a case study within
aviation maintenance in Qantas Airline which is one of the leading airline companies of
Australia where work practices have considerable impacts on the environment. The report
will collect data on present data practices being adopted by the company for managing this
area and will investigate alternative ways of efficiently managing the environmental area.
Further, it will also be going to throw some light on techniques for achieving the new targets
and will measure and monitor the effectiveness of the new practices.
MAIN BODY
Determining the area of study, compliance regulations, current practice and policies being
adopted by the company on specified environmental issues
Not a single aircraft is so accepting of negligence that it is safe in the absence of an
effective inspection as well as maintenance programme. The processes which impact the
aircraft worsens with time and chance failure. The maintenance of aircraft includes different
areas such as cleaning, repairing, modification, inspection and determination of condition and
servicing. However, for the current purpose the cleaning and repairing area is being taken
into consideration. The activities being undertaken for cleaning and repairing the aircrafts in
the Qantas airline has some way or the other impact on the environment (Berežný, 2021).
This is because of the fact that the cleaning and maintenance of aircraft involves the use of
wastage of water, spilling of fuels and oil, utilization of certain of chemicals for washing, use
of electricity and use of equipment for repairing which emit harmful gases that might results
into water and air pollution and results into greenhouse gas emission. The maintenance
activity of the aviation is being regarded as crucial activity for sustaining as well as restoring
the integrity as well as performance of the airplane. However, on the other hand, it is also
resulting into degradation of the environment.
Quanta airline is effectively taking into account the airline regulatory compliance
such as flight time limitations, Minimal Navigation Performance Standards (MNPS), EASA
Part M Continuing Airworthiness and other legal requirements and regulations being led
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down by the government of Australia. They comply with the anti-bribery policy, insider
trading prohibition, gift, entertainment and hospitality and managing of conflict of interest
(Kucuk, 2019). In addition to this, the company also have their own policies and practices for
the purpose of management of the environmental issues which arises out of their maintenance
activities. some of the policies and practices of the organization are as follows:
 Fuel efficiency program – Some of the ground service equipment, heavy and light
maintenance, defect and component replacement, repair and other type of activities
emits harmful gases which someway or the other pollutes the environment. In this
regard, the company has planned and invested amount in a more fuel-efficient fleet.
they have invested in better technologies such has GPS based navigation technology
for improving the operational efficiency of the ground power units.
 Waste and recycling – Because of the maintenance of large number of fleets which
involves number of activities such as restoring, cleaning and repairing, numerous
amounts of waste is being produced. Over sixty fiver percent of the general waste
being produced is being diverted from the landfill to an alternative waste treatment
facility. At that facility, the company has installed recycling bins in all major airport
terminals being occupied by them. In addition to this, the company has also initiated a
waste compositing program in their corporate offices (Our governance, 2021).
 Utilities reduction – For the purpose of making sure that the Qantas airline attains the
electricity and water targets, the company systematically determines as well as
execute electricity and water saving projects throughout the areas of their operations
and particularly their maintenance departments. Illustration involves: making
improvement in the efficiency in the lighting through adopting LED technology,
procurement of electrical appliances, installation of water efficient fixtures and so on.
Way of measuring the effectiveness of what’s currently in place
The effectiveness of the present-day practices along with the procedures of the
manner in which the Qantas airlines manages the area within the case study can be measured
with the help from the global reporting initiative (GRI). It is being referred as a global
standard for sustainability reporting being developed by the firms as well as investors for
measuring the performance of the business. The GRI has been adopted as a need by leading
institutional investors and development firms across the world. the company can make
comparison of their practices and policies being adopted with the accepted set standards in
relation with the environmental issues and can easily evaluate their progress in regards with
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their objectives and goals of sustainability. The GRI is based on three main areas that
environmental, social and governance (Rashid, Place and Braithwaite, 2013). On comparing
with the global reporting initiative, it can be said that the current practices being adopted by
the organization is positive up to some extend as they are successful enough in accomplishing
some of their targets. However, some of the strategies and approaches being adopted by the
company for reducing the impacts of operation towards the environment were not efficient
enough in reducing the influence and thus, different innovative and alternative approaches
need to be planned for managing the environmental area.
Investigating and analysing alternative manners of managing the environmental area
Quanta airline is investigating many ways and methods for managing the
environmental areas by various approaches which are helpful in determining the ways to
produce the plans and strategies for solving this problem.
Cradle to cradle approach
This is the new concept of sustainable development strategy for reducing the wastages
that is caused by the company or various manufacturer like reuse of papers, reducing cutting
down the trees, reuse of water and animal waste etc. This strategy is all about using
biodegradable products by the company for reusing of the things in future. The main aim of
the approach is to guide the company for reusing of the wastages because wastages cannot be
reduced but it can be reused according to the nature.
Triple bottom line reporting
This is a concept should be used by the Quanta airline in which the company should
not focus only on the profit making motive but it should also focus on the nature and the
people. This concept has three main aim profit, people, the planet because without
considering the people and the planet the our ecosystem will be in a huge loss. Climate
uncertainty and less natural resources our planet is in danger due to heavy loses of trees and
lands by the company. This concept objective is to pay attension on the planet by using the
resources in a way that there is less wastages and more efficiency and indulge in those
practices that is not harmful for the people’s health.
New ecologically beneficial targets and procedures
The main emphasis of the environmental strategies of the Qantas airline is on
electricity, water and waste reductions and thus, the new ecologically beneficial target and
procedures in order to become more sustainable will be based on these areas and they are
being elaborated in the following paragraph:
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 To reduce the consumption of electricity by 10 percent every year
 To reduce the consumption of water by 15 percent every year
 To reduce the waste to landfill by 20 percent every year
For the purpose of successful completion and accomplishment of the set targets and
goals, it is essential that it must be communicated and informed to the responsible members
of the groups so that necessary steps can be undertaken easily. For communicating and
informing the teams meetings will be organized wherein each and every member will be
allotted their individual accountability towards the fulfilment of the common sustainability
goals.
Tools and techniques for achieving new targets and disseminating information among the
group
For the purpose of attaining the new targets of sustainability and ecological goals and
objectives, it is quite important for the company to develop an effective action plan. Seeking
help from the action plan, the firm will be able to plan out a framework in regards with the
manners in which the whole activities or targets will be completed efficiently (Shanmugam
and Robert, 2015). Furthermore, the action plan can be disseminated among the groups with
the help of formal meetings or through drafting an email to all the accountable members of
the company.The action plan are as follows:
Objective Activity Resources Timeline
To reduce the
consumption of
electricity
To raise the
awareness among
the staff about
saving electricity
To make use of solar
panels
To make use of solar
lights
Solar panels, solar
lights, money, teams
and groups
1 year
To reduce the
consumption of
water
Strom water
treatment
De-icing and runoff
management
Oil and water
separators and other
Equipment
3 months
To reduce the waste To continue to Seminars, support of 6 months
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to landfill
recycle waste
Reusing materials
Less consumption of
materials and waste
To learn more about
waste management
top management,
recyclable materials
and machines
Communicating the significance of new protocols and the eventual savings to the company
and the environment
It is quite important on the part of Qantas Airline to communicate the importance of
new protocols and the eventual savings from the new action plans being planned by the
company so that each and every member of the company can effectively contribute. It is
crucial that while conducting the meetings, company should disseminate about the different
benefits of new protocols like, it will help in enhancing the brand image of the company, it
will reduce the overall costs of the firm and enhance the productivity of the workers,
investment opportunity will augment and financial will improve and will also help in
minimizing the carbon risk. Furthermore, these new practices and policies will also support
the firm in improving energy efficiency (Keselova and et.al, 2019).
Measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of the new practices
For the purpose of measuring as well as monitoring the effectiveness of the new
practices, the life cycle analysis tool can be utilized by the company. Life cycle analysis is
being defined as method of quantifying the influence of environment related with a give
product. Since, the firm is implementing many new practices and systems, it is crucial that
firstly the goals and scope of the practice should be determined. Secondly, inventory includes
the things such as energy needs, materials flow for each and every process being involved
and emissions (Némethová, Švec and Kandráč, 2018). The third stage involves impact
assessment where the influence on the environment is estimated and finally, improvement
evaluation in relation with the goal and scope is being set out. The feedback of the result is
then sent to all the stakeholders and the process is continuously monitored so that areas of
improvements can be determined.
Review
This is the final stage, where review is being done in regards with implementation of
both the successful outcomes and unsuccessful outcomes. In case the results are successful
than it is promoted and the accountable personnel are rewarded. On the other hand, if the
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results are not successful than changes are suggested and further improvement strategies are
exceuted and monitored in the future.
CONCLUSION
Thus, from the above analysis, it can be concluded that the above report has
significantly evaluated and determined the current practices and policies being adopted by the
company in relation with the environmental issues. Further, through analysis, different
alternative ways and action plans have also been planned which will significantly support the
firm in achieving the common sustainability goals. Effective monitoring and measurement
have also been done for the purpose of having successful outcomes.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Berežný, Š., 2021. Algorithms of Processes of the Winter Maintenance on Košice Airport;
Proceedings of the MOSATT 2011: International Scientific Conference Modern Safety
Technologies in Transportation; Kosice, Slovakia. pp.24–29.
Keselova, M., Liptakova, D., Galanda, J. and Koscak, P., 2019. The current impact of
aviation performance on carbon dioxide production; Proceedings of the International
Scientific Conference on Modern Safety Technologies in Transportation—MOSATT
2019; Kosice, Slovakia.
Kharoufah, H., Murray, J., Baxter, G. and Wild, G., 2018. A review of human factors
causations in commercial air transport accidents and incidents: From 2000-2016.
Progress in Aerospace Sciences. 99. pp.1-13.
Koblen, I., Szabo, S. and Krnacova, K., 2019. Selected Information on European Union
Research and Development Programmes and Projects focused on Reducing Emissions
from Air Transport. SAGE. 60. pp.113–122.
Kucuk, Y.A., 2019. Strategic approach to managing human factors risk in aircraft
maintenance organization: Risk mapping. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace
Technology. 91(4). pp.654-668.
Némethová, H., Švec, M. and Kandráč, P., 2018. The influence of global climate change on
the European Aviation. International Journal on Engineering Applications (IREA). 6.
pp.179–186.
Rashid, H.S.J., Place, C.S. and Braithwaite, G.R., 2013. Investigating the investigations: A
retrospective study in the aviation maintenance error causation. Cognition, Technology,
and Work. 15(2). pp.171-188.
Shanmugam, A. and Robert, T.P., 2015. Human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance:
A review. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering. 21(4). pp.478-505.
Online references
Our governance. 2021. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.qantas.com/in/en/qantas-
group/acting-responsibly/our-governance.html#our-approach>. [Accessed on 11thMay
2022].
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