Worldstrides My Trip - Aircraft Ground Support Equipment and the Environment

This is a sign of the times. US Airlines have signed an unprecedented agreement to purchase up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel fuel for use in ground service equipment at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning in late 2012.

Synthetic jet fuel was recently approved for commercial airline use. The fuel is expected to have a low carbon footprint and minimal particulate and other emissions while meeting fuel standards. The fuel will be produced primarily from urban wood green waste such as clippings. Is an ongoing commitment, to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality through the use of greener fuels, over time.

GSE design

Ground support equipment design will play a key role where new equipment is concerned. How can we comply with rules while not impeding operational demands, as the industry closes in on compliance deadlines for a variety of rules and regulations?

Cleaner burning gas and diesel engines could comply, but also newer. There have been examples of conversion of some of these types to electric. Etc, catering vehicles, cargo loading ramps, air conditioners, ground power units gpus, container loaders, such as pushback tractors, the major contributors of emissions in GSE are older units and larger heavier equipment, however.

All ground support equipment and infrastructure will ultimately be involved in the changeover, ground power units and free-standing generators, personnel carriers to mobile stairways, belt-loaders, cargo loaders, baggage handlers, tractors, from tugs. But the opportunities to go electric are everywhere, a mere 10% are electric; it is estimated that of the thousands of units currently in use in the United States. Electrification of ground support vehicles and equipment is part of a global effort toward cleaner airports. There is not sufficient time. Conversion in the short-term puts a burden on the OEMs.

Electric GSE vehicles are 90% cleaner and 75% less expensive to operate.

Rapid-charge power stations need to be positioned so equipment operators can conveniently plug in whenever the vehicle is not in use. The removal of airport fuel tanks that have been superceded, traffic routing to and from chargers, there will be a set-up cost with power lines for charging stations. Zero emissions creates measurable air quality improvements. There is less heat and vibration generated and fewer moveable parts. Because electric motor technology is more efficient and produces less wear and tear, repairs and equipment downtime are minimized, the retrofitting option from diesel to electric means maintenance.

Too, it's good public relations and good business. Starting the switch to electric technology for GSE demonstrates an airport's commitment to a cleaner environment. The switchover to electric GSE is underway.

De Deicing/Anti-icing Equipment

And you could be forgiven for thinking we are making progress, 15% of aircraft and engine manufacturers' turnover is devoted to research, and also, add to this the fact that over the last 40 years hydrocarbon emissions from aviation have been reduced by 90%. With figures in excess of 75% compared to 40-50% for trains and 30% for cars, and the industry also boasts much higher occupancy rates than other methods of transport, aircraft entering today's fleets are 70% more fuel efficient than they were 40 years ago.

Improve its green credentials, for example, will require that chemical deicing with glycols, the European Union's commitment to cutting its emissions by 8% from the 1990 levels by 2012 under the Kyoto protocol.

There are plenty of opportunities for enterprise in the field of ground support equipment design, in summary.