The 6th Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva is off to an interesting start! in his welcome address Executive Director of ATAG Paul Steele said that despite the turbulence air transport has experienced since the last Summit in 2010, there are pertinent discussions to be had around efficiency and aviation’s role in sustainable development.  This [...]

A problem shared is a problem solved, and so it is the greater spectrum of the Board of Directors at the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the easier and faster solution to aviation’s problems will arrive. ATR, the regional aircraft manufacturer has been welcomed onto the Board of Directors at ATAG which “rounds out the [...]

We are all getting exciting here in Geneva about next week’s Aviation & Environment Summit, the sixth such event. We have a great programme put together touching on a number of areas of importance for sustainable development in aviation. Biofuels, infrastructure and politics will all  be large components of the discussions. We are also lucky [...]

From a distance, modern aircraft would appear to be supremely aerodynamic with rounded noses, ‘natural laminar flow’ wings reducing drag, and silky lines from the nose to the tip of the tail. However, up close, and with the help of a large magnifying glass, the aerodynamic illusion is betrayed by a layer of paint which [...]

Think about the term ‘Green Aviation Industry’ and what comes to mind? An aircraft dipped in green paint sprinting down the runway? A couple of big bushes attached to wings made out of hedgerows? How about an airport built out of garden sheds? Well, you wouldn’t be far wrong with a combination of the three. [...]

November  was another month for airlines to join the  growing list demonstrating our ability to fly on biofuels with Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air,  inaugurating their first commercial biofuel flights between Seattle and Washington, DC, on 9 November. The first two that took place were just 2 of the 75 biofuel flights scheduled between the two [...]

A little while back, this blog covered the weight saving work of Boeing using clever new composite materials to make parts in the most peculiar yet sophisticated fashion. Well, they’re not the only ones who can play this game as you are about to find out.   The engines and body of an aircraft constitute [...]

In line with Airbus’ development plans for their self designed wing fences, now known as ‘sharklets’, an A320 rolled out of the workshop in Toulouse on 21 November, with the new design in place at the tips of the wings ready for flight testing before going into production on the A319, A320 and A321 at [...]

In aviation, fuel efficiency can be achieved in many ways but one practice in particular has achieved effective results. Industry figures report that an aircraft saves 34,000litres of fuel per year for each kilogram less in weight it carries, according to enviro.aero FAQ number 14 – the lighter the starting weight of the aircraft, the [...]

Lufthansa is one of the biggest airlines in the world with a fleet of more than 700 aircraft, however there is one which is of more interest than others.   During a six month trial which began in July 2011, the regular service between Hamburg and Frankfurt has been using a 50:50 mix of regular [...]