Environmental Initiatives

As mentioned in Chapter 34, an FAA-industry program called Continuous Lower Energy, Emis­sions, and Noise (CLEEN) is underway to reduce aircraft fuel burn by 33 percent and to reduce oxides of nitrogen by 60 percent, while reducing aircraft noise by 32 decibels, all from the cur­rent ICAO standard. CLEEN technologies include alternative fuels, noise reducing engine nozzles, adaptable wing trailing edges, optimized flight trajectories using onboard flight management sys­tems, and open rotor and geared turbofan engines. Target date for beginning implementation is 2015.

NextGen: Tomorrow at a Glance

2012: Issue final investment decision 2015: Initiate revised departure learances

2018: initiate en route capability

• 2012: Publish FAA response to Aviation Rulemaking Committee recommendations

• 2012: issue final investment decision

FIGURE 36-4 Elements of the NextGen program in the works.

Another joint program is in the process of developing the use of “drop-in” alternative jet fuels. While there are several definitions as to what constitutes a “drop-in” alternative jet fuel, one popular one says that it is any renewable fuel which can be blended with petroleum prod­ucts and utilized in the current infrastructure of pumps, pipelines, and other existing equip­ment. They are functionally identical to conven­tional jet fuel and do not differ in performance or operational capability. ASTM International has so far approved two drop-in alternative jet fuels.5

There is no single renewable jet fuel that will meet all of aviation’s needs because of the lack of predictable availability, which is a function of crop availability, climate factors, and related variables. The FAA, therefore, is working to secure ASTM approval for as many
alternative biofuels as possible through the CLEEN program.