A Comprehensive Report on Sustainable Aviation in the UK: Analysis

This report provides a detailed analysis of sustainable aviation, focusing on its application within the civil aviation industry, particularly in the UK. It explores the environmental, social, and economic impacts of aviation, including noise and air pollution, job creation, and contributions to GDP. The report examines the range of sustainability issues, such as fuel consumption and emissions, and the industry's attempts to address them through modernizing fleets, exploring alternative fuels, and implementing environmental management systems. It also outlines the policy framework set by the UK government, including the Civil Aviation Act and carbon trading schemes. Furthermore, the report discusses best practices for ensuring sustainable performance within aviation companies, such as environmental monitoring and flight plan optimization. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of a holistic planning approach for commercial aviation management to achieve long-term sustainability.

SUSTAINABLE AVIATION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................4
1. Sustainability and its application in civil aviation.......................................................................4
2. Recognizing the growth of civil aviation that possess certain sustainability challenges.............5
3. Environment, social and economic impact of aviation ...............................................................5
4. Range of sustainability issues and the way in which aviation industry is attempting to address
them.................................................................................................................................................6
5. Policy framework within which a sustainable civil aviation industry must operate ..................8
6. Best possible methods to ensure sustainable performance within an aviation company.............9
7. Importance of a holistic planning approach to commercial aviation management...................10
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................11
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ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1 Environmental and noise sustainability issues for airlines along flight operations .......7
Illustration 2: Social sustainability issues at airlines ..........................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Sustainable aviation is a long term strategy which can be considered as an agglomerate
approach of UK aviation to manage different changes and to ensure the sustainable future of airline
industry. The following approach has been launched in 2005 that brings together major players of
UK airlines, air navigation services providers, airlines manufactures and airports. It is a unique
approach for UK transportation sector where proactive alignment of different airlines and
manufactures, air traffic management etc. to solve the issues related to sustainability is there (A
strategy towards sustainability development of UK aviation, 2015).
The present study is related to sustainable aviation which explains about various aspects
related to the subject and major things that will be highlighted in the following research are term of
sustainability and its application in civil aviation, impact of aviation on environment, economic and
social, range of sustainable issues and many other things.
1. Sustainability and its application in civil aviation
In terms of ecology, sustainability can be defined as a process by which the existing
biological system always remains diverse and more productive. In the present time, this is a social
challenge to maintain changes in lifestyle and ethical consumerism at international and national
level (Upham and et.al., 2012). On the other hand, civil aviation is related to air transport which can
be divided into two different segments, that is, non-military aviation (i.e. passenger and cargo
flights which are operating on schedules basis) and private as well as commercial aviation (i.e.
general aviation). Like any other public transportation, aviation industry cannot survive and sustain
in the long term by using available very limited resources (Howarth and Griggs, 2013). Therefore, it
is important for aviation industry to think about the way to improve and utilize the resources to
achieve sustainable development. Hence, the applications of sustainability in civil aviation are as
follows.
 Modernizing the fleet’s size by developing fuel efficient aircraft.
 Exploring new technologies and different standards regarding reducing emission of gases.
 Bringing water saving and recycling plans to utilize the available resources in an appropriate
manner.
 Installing upward facing wings reduces the extra use of fuel.
 Identifying new energy resources for jets planes.
 Developing carbon offset plans and policies (How Some Airlines Are Striving toward
Sustainability, 2015).
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2. Recognize the growth of civil aviation poses certain sustainability challenges
From the present study, it has been found that UK aviation industry is contributing 52 billion
pounds every year which give the strength to economic condition of nation. Along with this, it has
also explored that the increasing growth in aviation boosts the productivity of different businesses
and creates various opportunities of employment to the community (Bishop and Grayling, 2003).
The growing aviation industry allows numerous sectors to access the foreign markets and to
increase the exports. In addition to this, the connectivity with various developing and developed
nations also provides the competitive advantages to UK. On the other hand, the aviation industry
has also promoted the culture and tourism within nation (Walker and Cook, 2009). Therefore, from
the above discussion, it has been clear that the aviation industry is growing very fast with time and
made positive impacts on UK economy.
But, with this growth, the following industry has also faced sustainability challenges. The
first challenge is fuel because on earth, the availability of fuel is limited and it is not possible to
survive on limited resources (Knorzer and Szodruch, 2011). With the time, the prices of fuel is
increasing and many of the aviation companies start imposing fuel surcharge on customers by
increasing the prices of tickets. The second sustainability challenge occurred with the growth of
aviation industry is environment impact due to the airline operations. It creates different types of
pollutions such as noise, water, air as well as affects the health of people (Flouris and Yilmaz,
2011). If UK aviation industry has not reduced the percentage of carbon then UK government will
impose the restriction which can stop the growth of aviation. This may affect the economic
condition in a negative way.
3. Environment, social and economic impact of aviation
Dynamic growth and development in aviation industry has impacted the environment,
social and economic of nation (Budd, Griggs and Howarth, 2013). The impact can be categorized
into positive and negative which are as follows:
Environmental impact of
aviation
Economic impact of aviation Social impact of aviation
Noise pollution, which affect
the health of human being. It
may cause hearing defects.
Air pollution leads to negative
impact on the growth of plant
species.
Aviation industry generates
more than 35 million jobs
opportunities for the people.
Enhances the GDP of UK.
Allows the large number of
visitors to experience diversity
It helps in connecting the
developing nations to the
developed countries so that
people can experience the
culture of other places. Due to
this reason, the food and
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Gases may contribute to climate
change and global warning.
of UK in terms of culture,
climate and markets.
Promoted the trade in UK
because with the help of fast air
transportation, the delivery of
various goods within minimum
time becomes easy (Whitelegg,
2000).
Attracts various investors and
increases their investment level
in different business sectors
which is increasingly generated
jobs and wealth with the time
(The economic benefits of air
transport, 2005).
hospitality industries of UK are
now sustainably surviving in
the market (Social Impacts,
2015).
4. Range of sustainability issues and the way in which aviation industry is attempting to address
them
There is a wide range of sustainability issues that are being faced by aviation industry. These
complex problems are environmental issues and social issues. Environmental issue is the most
common issue in aviation industry because various operations of airlines have made the negative
impact on environment (Amaeshi and Crane, 2006). This impact can be easily structured in the
below figure:
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From the above figure, it can be seen that the different types of chemical gases has released
by aircraft as well as their impact can be clearly visible. With the height, the impact of aircraft on
environment becomes negative. The environmental effect due to aviation industry is because of
generation of heat, noise from the engine and emission of gases. These things are giving the
contribution in climate changes. Along with this, the radiation exposure from jet planes affects the
health of people (Gebal, 2003).
On the other hand, social issues also rose with the time. The social sustainability issues can
be divided into numerous sections where individual has expressed different factors. The first
category is customers that are the most common sustainability issues in aviation industry. This issue
includes various things such as air safety, health, customer care, passenger rights etc. On the other
hand, employee’s section covers different types of sustainability issues like diversity and equal
opportunities, health and safety of workers, working conditions, employee’s satisfaction level etc.
The resident’s category is addressing the environmental issues which currently, airline industry of
UK is facing.
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Illustration 1: Environmental and noise sustainability issues for airlines along flight
operations
(Source: Gebal, 2003)

To solve the above stated social and environmental issues, aviation industry is now taking
several steps.
 It is preparing Environmental Management System in which various environment issues will
be enlisted with their several alternative solutions.
 Making use of alternative fuels is one of the steps. For example, bio fuel is prepared by
waste biomass to reduce the emission of carbon about 80% as compared to the available
fuels (Alternative Fuels, 2015).
 Another alternative is environmental assessment where an evaluation system is designed
which helps the airlines to their environmental evaluation. This process helps in bringing the
continuous modification in existing policies to adopt the best sustainable environmental
practices (Benefits for Airlines, 2015).
5. Policy framework within which a sustainable civil aviation industry must operate
There are different policy frameworks that have been set by the UK government for civil
aviation which are required to be adopted by airlines industry, air traffic management and aircraft
manufactures. Some policy frameworks are as follows:
Civil Aviation Act, 1982 National policy framework for aviation industry
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Illustration 2: Social sustainability issues at airlines
(Sources: Gebal, 2003)

where UK government has set noise controls
parameters for the airports.
The aim is management of noise and reducing
its impact on community and meeting the
sustainability (Aviation Policy Framework,
2013).
Carbon trading & carbon off-setting Organizing event which is used in decrease in
emergence of CO2 and other green house gases.
It provides benefits for developing a relevant
sustainability in aviation industry.
In this context, different airlines industries,
aircraft manufactures and airports need to adopt
various sources of carbon offsets such as
increasing the use of renewable energy (i.e. wind
power, bio fuel, solar power, hydroelectric
power etc.), improvements in the engine to
reduce the carbon emission, use of carbon
retirement schemes etc. (Aviation carbon offset
programmes, 2008).
Directives 2002/30/EC and 2002/49/EC and
other regulations:
As per the directive 2002/49/EC of European
parliament, it has developed an assessment and
management of environmental noise policy in
2002.
Framework helps the aviation industry to assess
the environmental noise and to adopt various
methods to overcome the effects on environment
and human beings.
2002/30/EC directive, European parliament has
also prepared a policy in 2002. In this directive,
different rules and regulations have been
formulated which can be used to imply the
restrictions on noise related operations near at
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community airports (Directives, 2015).
6. Best possible methods to ensure sustainable performance within an aviation company
There are various best possible methods to ensure the sustainability performance within a
aviation company.
 Environmental monitoring – It is a monitoring system to help an aviation company to assess
the airlines operations and their impact on environment and other elements (Howarth and
Griggs, 2013). With the use of this system, organization can easily adopt new methods and
alternatives of energy to sustain in the industry for long time (Upham and et.al., 2012).
 Direction of sustainability is flight plan - In the present scenario, most of the airline
companies are facing aircraft rotation. To solve these issues, an aviation organization has to
adopt fleet assignment problems methods which will help in identifying the type of aircraft
which is assigned to each flight within a planned schedule (Bishop and Grayling, 2003).
There is a need to adopt a specific flight plan format which has been prepared by Civil
Aviation Authority. This form includes information like departure and arrival destinations,
alternative points in case of emergency or bad weather, number of passengers that can travel
in a single time etc.
 Benchmarking and auditing- By using this approach, aviation firm can improve the
performance and move in the direction of sustainability with time. With the help of this, it
becomes easy to set the standards against the top performing and successful aviation
organization in industry (Agur, 2014).
7. Importance of a holistic planning approach to commercial aviation management
Holistic planning approach is a technique which is used to combine the two planning
practices. The following approach can be used in commercial aviation management which can be
understood by an example (Walker and Cook, 2009). In civil aviation, most of the part of revenue
has spent on buying fuel, salaries of staff and maintenance of the aircraft. So, to reduce this overall
expenditure, it is required to optimize the maintenance practices. In this context, MRO
(maintenance, repair and operations) method can be used. This approach helps civil aviation to fix
any kind of electrical, mechanical or any other type of problem before it becomes breakdown or out
of the order (Knorzer and Szodruch, 2011). By adopting this integrated approach, the civil aviation
can lower down various operational costs, effective workforce management as well as business
intelligence. Therefore, from the above stated example, it can be said that holistic planning
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approach plays an important role in commercial aviation management and increases its performance
with time. Along with this, it is helpful in meeting the sustainable growth in aviation industry
(Flouris and Yilmaz, 2011).
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be said that by seeing the present condition and limited
availability of resources, it has become essential for aviation industry to move in the direction of
sustainability. With the growth in this area, there are various sustainability challenges which have
increased and made positive and negative types of impacts on environment as well as economic and
social factors of UK. To resolve the negative effects of aviation, organizations have to adopt various
frameworks, best practices and holistic planning approach to achieve the sustainability and to
survive in the market for long time.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Amaeshi, K. M. and Crane, A., 2006. Stakeholder engagement: a mechanism for sustainable
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Bishop, S. and Grayling, T., 2003. The sky's the limit: policies for sustainable aviation. Institute for
Public Policy Research.
Budd, L. C., Griggs, S. and Howarth, D., 2013. Sustainable aviation futures. Emerald Group
Publishing.
Flouris G.T. and Yilmaz K. A., 2011. Risk Management and Corporate Sustainability in Aviation.
Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Howarth, D. and Griggs, S., 2013. The politics of airport expansion in the United Kingdom:
hegemony, policy and the rhetoric of'sustainable aviation. Manchester University Press.
Knorzer, D. and Szodruch, J., 2011. Innovation for Sustainable Aviation in a Global Environment:
Proceedings of the Sixth European Aeronautics Days, Madrid, 30 March - 1 April, 2011.
IOS Press.
Upham, P. and et.al., 2012. Towards Sustainable Aviation. Routledge.
Walker, S. and Cook, M., 2009. The contested concept of sustainable aviation. Sustainable
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