At Farnborough Airshow Hélène Gagnon shared with us the environmental initiatives being spearheaded by business jet and commercial aircraft manufacturer Bombardier. 

Watch the video to hear how Bombardier incorporates environmental stewardship throughout the production lifecycle; the company's leadership in establishing a carbon offset programme for business jet customers; and how Bombardier is helping the aviation industry 'walk the talk' with recycling at the air show

The Mitsubishi Regional Jet – the aircraft that it is expected to ‘revolutionise short-haul flying when it enters into service in early 2014 and the first passenger aircraft to be built by a Japanese company since the mid-1970s. Currently the aircraft is only a model in the Mitsubishi Aircraft corp. Office, yet reports on its progress in the press this week are suggesting this aircraft, thought to be one of the most environment-friendly aircraft in the world, is well on its way to becoming a reality. The jet features new Pratt & Whitney PurePower engines which burn 20% less fuel than other engines, and boasting  significantly lower nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and smoke emissions, as well as reducing to less than half the noise of the aircraft on take-off. Not only is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions kinder on the environment, but the cut in fuel consumption also lowers operators’ costs significantly savings it.  Japan’s All Nippon Airways is set to be the first airline planning to fly the Mitsubishi Regional Jet in 2014 and has already ordered 15 of the $40 million jets.

Elsewhere this week, Finnair has become the first to commit to the new design for the Airbus A321s equipped with the fuel-saving "sharklet" wing tip devices. The eco-efficient A321s are expected to reduce Finnair's fuel consumption by 4% compared to its present fleet, corresponding to an annual CO2 reduction of more than 700 tonnes per aircraft.

Keeping on the subject of aircraft, the ‘zero-emission’ Solar Impulse has been preparing this week for its first ever night flight which will take place sometime at the end of this month. The Solar Impulse, designed by Andrew Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, is the first ever aircraft propelled solely by solar energy and whilst the concept is far from being conceivable for commercial aircraft, the project demonstrates some exciting possibilities for the future of flight. The project aims to prove that a solar-powered craft is able to fly day and night without any fuel, thereby demonstrating the potential of the renewable energies and the technologies that will enable the aviation industry to cut fuel usage and lower its carbon emissions.

Whilst China shows increasing commitment to the global efforts in the battle against climate change, the Chinese aviation sector has been forging ahead with developments in biofuels and air traffic control, both vital pillars to the industry’s strategy for a sustainable future for flight.

This week, an announcement came from Honeywell’s UOP LCC for plans to collaborate with aviation and refining leaders including PetroChina, Air China and Boeing, to evaluate and demonstrate sustainable aviation biofuels in China. The team, which includes government agencies and associations along with aviation and biofuel companies, will be looking into feedstock harvesting and processing, the establishment of refining capacity for commercial production, and the development of the infrastructure to store, deliver and dispense biofuels. Their aim: develop a complete supply chain for affordable, safe and domestically produced aviation biofuels in China, which will in turn result in a substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry. UOP has also signed an agreement to work with PetroChina, Air China and Boeing to evaluate and plan a biofuel demonstration flight in China. The flight will run on a 50:50 blend of petroleum-based jet fuel and ‘Green Jet Fuel’ – a sustainable, non-food feedstocks, which offers a reduction of up to 80% in GHG emissions!

Elsewhere in China, the Civil Aviation Authority is planning an upgrade of Chek Lap Kok's Air Traffic Control system to support ADS-B technology – a next generation air transportation system which gives pilots and navigators a better sense of its position compared with the present radar-based system, easing congestion and as such minimising both the time that aircraft spends taxiing and circling airports whilst waiting to land. Such measures are expected to save around 1,655 tonnes of jet fuel each year at an airport, which translates into savings of US$1.17 million in fuel costs for the airlines using Hong Kong International Airport and a reduction of 5,230 tonnes of CO2 a year.

This week, the JAL Group was awarded the "Eco-First" title by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan for the airline's various environmental conservation initiatives. These initiatives include fleet renewal, engine washing, the use of ecological, advanced flight operation methods such as User Preferred Route and Continuous Descend Approach, and the development of commercially-viable biofuel. What’s more, JAL has been spreading its environmental efforts further afield through its contribution to projects such as forest-fire surveillance, atmospheric air research and environmental education. So with the “Eco-First” must come an "Eco-First Pledge”; for JAL, this means achieving a 23% reduction in CO2 emissions in the year 2020, compared with levels in 2005.

Elsewhere, the South-African airmotive company ADEPT has stepped up the plate with the launch of their new light aircraft engine at Virginia Airport this week. The new liquid-cooled aircraft engine can operate on either biofuel or liquid petroleum gas, resulting in an engine with significantly lower lead, Nitrous Oxide and CO2 emissions, as well as reduced noise levels.

Innovations such as this are a reflection of the hard work that has been taking place throughout the aviation industry in the collective efforts to combat climate change – a subject that is now present in all discussions within the industry. An ICAO Colloquium on Aviation and Climate Change held last week brought together stakeholders from across the aviation industry as well as key government representatives to discuss the impact of aviation on the environment, what measures are being taken and what more can be done. The event provided a great opportunity for players from across the industry to demonstrate their own initiatives, providing a platform to share best practices and incentivising other businesses to follow suit. One example comes from Qatar Airways who, at the Colloquium, announced plans to be the first airline to be operating with 100% synthetic jet fuel by 2014 – a fuel made from a mix between gas-to-liquid and biomass-to-liquid blends, reducing the consumption of non-renewable petroleum based fuel and as such reducing the airline’s emissions of CO2.

This Wednesday, representatives from airports across the U.S. came together for a ‘Green Airports’ seminar, hosted by South Carolina’s  Department of Health and Environmental Control and launched under the Green Airports Initiative. The seminar educated airports on how they can become more environmentally friendly and reduce their operating costs through the promotion of alternative fuels, recycling initiatives and energy efficiency.

Dallas/Fort Worth International made a timely demonstration of how airports can make an impact in this way by moving up the rankings on the American EPA Top 20 Local Government list of large green power purchasers. The airport was recognised by the EPA for its commitment to protecting the environment by proactively choosing to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives. The airport currently purchases 60 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 20% of the airport's electricity use, and resulting in significant savings both in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Alice Springs Airport in Australia has launched their own energy project, with works underway building a solar power station. The power station will deliver approximately 600 megawatt hours of electricity directly to the airport's internal electricity grid, making up roughly 28% of the airport's electricity demand and reducing the airport's carbon emissions by around 470 ton of CO2 per year.

Elsewhere, South America’s TAM Airlines has been busy preparing for non-commercial demonstration flight later this year, marking the continent’s progress in biofuel development. The flight will take place on an Airbus A320 equipped with CFM56-5B engines and will run on a mixture of aviation biofuel produced using jatropha oil. According to research from Michigan Technological University, a flight of this kind can achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of between 65 and 80% compared to petroleum-derived jet fuel.

Thanks to a little surprise from Mother Nature herself, recent days have seen air transport in Europe grinding to an abrupt halt. But that hasn’t stopped the industry from continuing work on the various initiatives being adopted across the sector, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and limiting aviation’s impact on the environment.

Earlier this month, the Port of Seattle released there 2010 Environmental Annual Report, detailing the various initiatives that are being taken at Sea-Tac airport which facilitates their progress in key environmental areas such as their energy use and conservation, as well as material use and recycling. One of their projects is to convert more than 650 of their vehicles from fossil fuels to electricity. This is expected to save more than 400,000 gallons of fuel as well as reducing CO2 emissions by more than 4,000 metric tonnes per year.

In the UK, Bournemouth Airport is busy constructing its new arrivals hall, whose innovative structure makes maximum possible use of solar gain, solar shading, daylight and natural ventilation. Collectively, this will reduce the need for mechanical and electrical installations which, in turn, reduces the building’s energy requirements. The new building, which will be ready for use by summer 2011, is expected bring a reduction in CO2 emissions by 70% compared to the previous design, and is the first airport building of its type in the UK.

And whilst we’re on the airport theme, Incheon International Airport in Korea showed its commitment to industry efforts last week by signing an agreement last week to join the Korean government-led campaign to reduce GHG emissions and improve energy efficiency in its facilities. The airport together with 11 other large companies will invest a total of $14.2 million in related equipment including LED lighting and alternative energy equipment, and have set an average target of cutting energy consumption 2.79% with final targets to be set in May. It is estimated that the project could have an effect of saving energy equivalent to 8,000 tons of oil, and cut related costs by 5 billion won per year.

Under new European regulation, all airlines flying in and out of Europe will be required to reduce carbon gas emission by 3% by the end of 2012. Yet movements this week would suggest many airlines are willing to go further…

Thai Airlines International intends to achieve 50% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, taking up the industry-wide targets layed out through ATAG. Working together with the Corporate Social Responsibility programme, they are aiming to reduce GHG emission on all flights through fuel and energy saving methods. One of the most effective ways for airlines to improve their energy and fuel efficiency is by modernising their fleet - this week, Thai Airways announced they would be acquiring 15 new energy-efficient aircraft by 2014!

Another airline is exceeding expectations, gaining recognition from a group of green advocates from the government, business and citizens' group in Seoul. This group, who make up the Climate Change Forum, awarded Asiana Airlines with a prize for its efforts in reducing carbon emissions through their carbon offsetting program, reducing weights of flights and cleaning engines to save fuel. The result has seen a carbon reduction of 30,000 tonnes from 2008.

Finnair has been looking beyond the air and the ground for measures in which they can contribute to global environmental efforts, announcing this week that they will be supporting the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) in its work to improve the state of the Baltic Sea – the world’s most polluted sea. The idea behind the BSAG is to obtain as high quality research data as possible to support practical measures to restore the Baltic Sea and ensure that the right steps are taken for the good of the sea. Finnair's participation in the BSAG involves helping with travel arrangements, enhancing visibility and offering the possibility of donating Finnair Plus points. By donating 75,000 Finnair Plus points to BSAG, Finnair's frequent flyers can donate oil-spill containment boom to the rescue department, which provides protection against irreversible damage in the event of an accident.

This week the aviation industry has had its focus on developing alternative energy both on the ground and in the air. East Midlands Airport announced plans to have four giant wind turbines built by the end of this year, which will be used to generate electricity for the airport. The turbines will generate 900 kilowatt hours of electricity – without any emissions to pollute the environment – which is enough to cover about 10% of the airport's energy needs. This project is part of a wider plan to make the airport's ground operations carbon neutral.

Airports in the US, in Texas, Dallas, Las Vegas and Houston, have the same goal of carbon neutrality, but are concentrating on a different initiative to take them there. Working together with Clean Energy Fuels, the airports have all set up major new airport compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling business. At these airports, Clean Energy will build a public access CNG fueling stations which will support the growing fleets of off-airport parking shuttle fleets, on-airport courtesy shuttle vehicles as well as taxis and private CNG fleet vehicles.

A new report has been published which outlines various case studies looking at the efforts that have been made over the past years by airports aimed at cutting emissions and improving efficiency… just so they know their efforts are not being ignored!

This week has also seen a major announcement from Qatar Airways, Qatar Science & Technology Park and Qatar Petroleum, with the support of Airbus. These companies are to jointly develop production of an alternative fuel for aircraft. Following a feasibility study into bio fuel seven months ago, the initiative now establishes the Qatar Advanced Biofuel Platform to develop the fuel. Initially Qatar Airways will be a dedicated end-user, but there is a view to opening the production out to other airlines and companies. Yet whilst deals are being struck on the ground, it is not without movement in the air - this initiative comes just months after Qatar Airways completed the world's first commercial flight powered by a Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) fuel blend. And again, efforts are not unnoticed - even Qatar's deputy premier Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has shown excitement over the “tremendous” prospects this work has shown!

And there’s one more… monthly magazine Air Transport World selected Air New Zealand as its Airline of the Year for 2010. As well as recognition for its commitment to safety and operational excellence, the airline was specifically praised for its environmental initiatives, including conducting the world's first sustainable biofuel flight. While they are not doing it for the praise of awards, it does go to show that being an environmental leader is recognised.

The first flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner took place yesterday. The event was webcasted for the whole world to watch via a feed Boeing provided on their website. They had set up seven cameras around Paine Field in Everett, Washington to record the maiden flight, which is still available to watch on-demand.