Airplanes are harmful to the environment. You may have heard this. It’s all over the headlines, and it’s intended to make us question our desire for flight, and thus contribute to environmental destruction.
Can you guess what else could be bad for the environment? It’s pretty much everything else.
Media is used to influence popular culture. This is not a secret. Advertising is a business that we all do.
Social storytelling has been used to influence the opinions of their audience, from the earliest cave art depicting Thorgs’ victory over the mighty mastodon to Lunar’s thrift haul, to the most recent cave art.
It all began with cave art and evolved to traveling minstrels before finally becoming the tsunami of social media. Each group with an internet connection can voice their opinion and then find an audience to hit like and follow, present company included.
The question is: Why would we fly if it is so bad for the planet?
Air travel is a viable option when compared to other modes of transport. ThatIs it terrible for the planet? Below are some data points that you can use to help you find the answer.
Friday is Earth Day. People around the world will be gathered to create new and innovative ways to honor Mother Earth. In honor of this annual event I propose that we place aviation on the environmental stage. Not to criticize but to highlight the positive impact that flying planes has on the Earth and the steps we all take to make the industry more sustainable.
Innovations
Andrew Card, former U.S. Secretary for Transportation, famously stated, “Don’t believe everything you see in the newspapers.” We can probably update this to include internet. The truth is that the aerospace industry is making great strides towards becoming more environmentally sustainable. Although it may sound easy, we cannot just issue an order and then sweep it into sweeping changes with a broad brushstroke.
Ford Motor Company used aluminum to make its iconic F-150 pickup truck lighter in order to meet federal fuel consumption standards. FoMoCo cut 700 pounds using lighter materials. The Ecoboost engine was smaller.
As you may recall, my FLYINGArticle on the sunsetting 100LL. It took GAMI 11 year of development before finally winning approval by the FAA. Perhaps more time will pass until unleaded avgas adoption is complete, though that timeline will likely be accelerated.
Comparatively, it took nine years for Boeing to make the necessary updates to the 787 Dreamliner’s construction materials to be ready for commercial flight. The first commercial flight with passengers was in 2011, and it took them nine years. It is an eternity in automotive.
The evolution of air travel is evident in the shift to unleaded aviation fuel. The aerospace sector is not limited to fuel. FLYINGJulie Boatman, editor-in-chief, recently published a piece about her first flight in an electric airplane.
Initiatives
When there is a surge in demand for new supply offerings, the commercial industry rises to meet the challenge. This new demand drives innovation. Companies like Pipistrel and GAMI are changing the way we fuel and drive aircraft. Although full deployment is still many years away, steps are being taken to bring about an environmentally sustainable industry.
The FAA is also involved. Its EffortsTo create a net-zero sustainable aviation network by 2050. This includes everything, from aviation fuel to technology, flights operations, and airports. The Climate Action PlanThe FAA hopes to be more sustainable by encouraging initiative.
The July/August 2021 issue of the Guardian features Embracing the Environment FAA Safety Briefing. One thing to remember is what the FAA calls the “dark side” of going green. Electric power is a hot topic right now, and it is indeed cleaner than burning fossil fuels. However, it is not without fault.
Batteries are a major source of mobility power. They contain certain minerals that are sometimes mined using destructive collection methods like mountaintop removal or strip mining. These precious resources may also be found in conflict zones or behind oppressive regimes.
Pratiques
My tenure in the engine shop was marked by a constant awareness of our maintenance practices, waste, as well as shop products. Although everyone wants to be as sustainable as possible, perfection is not possible. Every company leaves a trace. It is our goal to minimize this impact. I will confess that the revenue from the reciprocating engine repair business was extremely slim. I did everything possible to reduce, reuse and recycle.
During teardown, we removed engines and put everything in a container. The engine information was placed on the outside. These engine remnants were stored in a container outside of the repair station footprint. We did our best and used the material as much as possible. All of this will be discussed when we talk about engine maintenance.
Engine maintenance is based on cleanliness. I could go on and on about the reasons why, but this article will focus solely on that. You can’t inspect what you don’t see. Steel parts must be free from contaminants before they can enter the inspection area. When performing magnetic particle inspector (MPI), cleanliness and hygiene are essential.
Mineral spirits, which was the preferred degreaser for years, cleaned the engine parts down to the smallest grease spot. It was the only way to degrease the shop when I first bought it. Ed, my Zep representative, said that he had a better way.
Enter the Zep Big OrangeLiquid Citrus Solvent Cleaner. According to the website, this product can be used as a cleaner, degreaser and deodorizer. It is organic and non-petroleum-based. Zep claims that this product has a similar degreasing power as petroleum distillates or chlorinated solvents.
We tried Zep Big Orange with mineral spirits, and both worked well. Why did we not abandon the old ways of doing things? This is an old tale that should be told after the statute of limitations has expired.
A shop towel recycling program is another way that aircraft mechanics can do their bit.
Recently, I sat down to discuss the matter with Steve Simpson.Closed Loop RecyclingWe will discuss the benefits of reusable shop towels and absorption pads as well as personal protection equipment (PPE).
Q: Describe the closed loop process that is used in the aviation industry.
A:Our recycling process brings your used absorbents and PPE back to our facility to clean them and make them usable for recycling or reuse.
Q: How can Closed Loop Recycling partner with you to benefit the environment?
A: CLP has a motto: We will do whatever it takes. CLP partners with three waste streams to create three reusable products.
- Oil for use
- Absorbents & PPE
- collection drums
Q: What can maintenance personnel do to reduce their environmental impact in their daily work?
- Reduce consumption first. It’s simple: Use one instead of two.
- Reuse disposable products such as gloves, absorption pads and gloves, and caps instead of throwing them away.
- Recycle any leftovers.
Reverse the order of the question at the top. Is air travel bad for the environment? This is a great question, and it is hotly debated in the media and on Capitol Hill. Please consider these data points before you answer.
Steve from Closed Loop advised that the best way to sustainably operate is to reduce. It is best to preserve existing material to reduce the need for new material.
Despite that, you might be surprised to find out that the average automobile age in the United States was 58 years.12.1 yearsIn 2021. The average age for general aviation aircraft is30 yearsA significant portion of this population is older than 40 years. You can keep what you already have and not have to invest in new. Last graphic is the number and type of passengers that have been scheduled to fly by the global airline industry between 2004-2020.
If they hadn’t flown, not all of the passengers would have traveled by car. It is safe to say that many would have. Does that sound green to your eyes?